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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the UK public have appalling manners on trains

69 replies

parasaurolophus · 07/12/2013 16:46

I am standing on a train while my children sit on the floor at my feet. Trains from euston delayed or cancelled due to awful tragedy.

We have seats reserved on this train that is running, but of course in euston it is a race to the train. Nearly every seat is filled with healthy twenty somethings, many of whom refused to move for children with reservations.

Children are swaying everywhere and these assholes stole their seats because they run faster.

I am mostly angry at cheapskate husband who wouldn't agree to hotel room

OP posts:

GoofyIsACow · 07/12/2013 16:48

Find your reserved seat and ask them to move, how long are you going to be on the train?

mirry2 · 07/12/2013 16:49

The reserved seats usually have a ticket on them, don't they? What did the people say when you asked them to move? I've never heard of this but I rarely travel by train so maybe it's a common occurrence. I hope not.

Original poster

parasaurolophus · 07/12/2013 16:49

They refused. Point blank refused. We are too far away now on crowded car.

OP posts:

hiddenhome · 07/12/2013 16:51

Sit on their knees?

500internalerror · 07/12/2013 16:51

If you have reserved seats, then ask for them. Ask them to explain why they didnt reserve their own, if they need to sit. If they have a medical condition fair enough - explain thus in a loud voice whilst saying you don't expect their medical history in public. If you kids are small, suggest a compromise by getting them to share a seat, because you are kind (er than the others).

CalamitouslyWrong · 07/12/2013 16:52

You should have told the train guard that they were in your seats and wouldn't move. The train staff are usually really helpful in that way.

youbethemummylion · 07/12/2013 16:52

Ask the people in your seats to move if they wont find the conductor who will tell them to move. People often sit in the reserved seat as they are only reserved for part of journey or on off chance the people dont turn up. Have you actually told them they are your seats?

500internalerror · 07/12/2013 16:53

I terestingly, the only time his hhappened to me & the kids was with another woman & kids, with her bags on all the seats

youbethemummylion · 07/12/2013 16:54

Ah x post tell the conductor or drum up support from other passengers nearby. Most adults I know would not tolerate that from other people and would tell those in your seats to do one!

NigellaLaw5on · 07/12/2013 17:06

Dh always says that the worst part of train driving is the bloody passengers.

WooWooOwl · 07/12/2013 17:10

Do you have to pay more for reserving seats?

chateauferret · 07/12/2013 17:41

The conductor should be enforcing reservations and occupying someone else's reserved seat is a breach of the Conditions of Carriage for which one could be ejected.

Snotty letter to the TOC.

FeckOffCupofMulledWine · 07/12/2013 17:47

Put the kids on their laps.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 07/12/2013 17:48

How fucking rude of them.

I agree, the conductor should be enforcing it and IME they usually do.

I'd always offer to stand on a crowded train for very little ones anyway, it's much harder for them to cope with the swaying/crowding.

grumpyoldbat · 07/12/2013 17:52

People don't have manners full stop. They rarely think of others, the "I'm alright jack" attitude rules. If they do think of others it's mostly in terms of how shit they can make others feel to get their kicks.

I agree with others OP complain.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 07/12/2013 17:58

Find the train manager and get them out of your seats!

I've found someone in my reserved seat before and they've always moved. I can't believe these shits won't

Rosa · 07/12/2013 18:02

Don't accept that .. You reserved the seats therefore they are yours . I would create a stink.

futuredad · 07/12/2013 18:10

If a number of trains have been cancelled/delayed it's often the case that reservations are not applied as strictly as they normally would be. After all, it could just as easily be the case that the people in "your seats" had previously reserved "their seats" on one of the cancelled trains.

I remember as a young child having to spend a couple of hours sat on one of the luggage racks at the end of the carriage because the train was crowded due to strikes. I didn't see not having a seat as a hardship, but actually found the whole journey more of an adventure (I was clearly an easily pleased 7-year old!!!!).

BackforGood · 07/12/2013 18:17

YABU to think "the UK public" have appalling manners on trains - not my experience at all, just based on the fact you have met some individuals who may have appalling manners.

Golddigger · 07/12/2013 18:25

WooWoo. No, not that I know of.
I think you can reserve up to two hours before you travel?
Am happy to be corrected though.

I have only once had a problem with reserved seats [dont travel by train regularly].
The man in the seat was indeed sitting in the correct seat, and going to the correct place. Trouble was, he had booked the train behind us!

unlucky83 · 07/12/2013 18:30

I've had this - two dcs (5 and 11 at the time) reserved seats with a table for a 3 hr journey -got on the crowded train to find four 20ish yr old (Eastern European I think) girls sat in our seats...
I said these are our seats, we have reserved them and they said 'we are getting off at the next stop' (15 mins away) and pointed to three seats scattered around the carriage (2 were next to someone in a two seat, one was on a table of four). I know (esp youngest) DCs wouldn't be happy sitting next to strangers even for 15 mins...so I stood there and said we need our seats, they said there are other seats - I stood my ground and said that's handy for you...took them more or less the whole 15 mins to move but they did ...with much grumbling in their own language...
Afterwards I did wonder if I was being unreasonable -but I don't think I was
I think you need to go and stand over them and refuse to move ...(and hope when they have DCs of their own will appreciate why you had reserved and needed seats!)

Vivacia · 07/12/2013 18:32

Are you sure the reservations haven't been dis-applied (as suggested above)? This is the only situation I've known people not to move for a reservation.

I travel on trains a fair bit and have always found most people incredibly polite and helpful, especially during difficult times.

PumpkinPositive · 07/12/2013 18:34

Find train guard tout suite. Did they give you a reason for their god awfulness?

catgirl1976 · 07/12/2013 18:35

Very often if there are large delays they remove the reservation system altogether and you have no right to your reserved seats whatsoever :(

But only a total fucker would refuse to give up their seat for a child (assuming they were able to stand yadda yadda

Trills · 07/12/2013 18:36

YABU to say this about "the UK public".

The majority of people I encounter on trains could not be described as having "appalling manners".

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