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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's inconsiderate to travel in the quiet coach with small children

267 replies

someonestolemynick · 23/03/2014 20:41

That, really.

I make a point of sitting in the quiet coach, where available in order to be able to work, read or just be alone with my own thoughts.

Today I'm joined by a young family with a baby. Of course, the baby starts crying whenever we go through a tunnel. Arrrgh! I know children make noice, hence KEEP.THEM.OUT.OF.THE.QUIET.ZONE.

AIBU?

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 23/03/2014 20:42

YANBU.

But unfortunately there are some selfish parents out there.

whois · 23/03/2014 20:43

YANBU

Quiet coach should be for those capable of being quiet!

KiwiBanana · 23/03/2014 20:44

Yanbu unless the train is so full that they have no where else to sit.
I wouldn't dream of inflicting my toddler on the quiet coach and would expect the same courtesy in return of other passengers.

littlebluedog12 · 23/03/2014 20:44

Sometimes you don't get a choice. I always reserve seats online and there isn't an option for 'not the quiet coach' so sometimes we end up there.

Greypuddle · 23/03/2014 20:45

When you book online, you're usually not given a choice which carriage your seats are in. Sometimes it's the quiet coach. And technically, technically it's supposed to mean no mobiles, computer games etc and noise to a minimum, rather than silence. I feel your pain, though.

Greypuddle · 23/03/2014 20:46

x-post!

BoomBoomsCousin · 23/03/2014 20:46

In my experience, if you resere a seat online you may well get put in the quiet coach whether you ask for it or not. So they may not have been given a choice. In which case YABU.

Or they may. In which case YANBU.

Pinkcustardpurplecustard · 23/03/2014 20:46

I'd only sit in the quiet coach if my kids were quiet and low key.

RicStar · 23/03/2014 20:46

Yanbu but I think you can get assigned there by (some) train companies unwittingly if you book seats & I can understand not wanting to trudge round the train looking for other seats if that was the case. V.annoying though.

BoomBoomsCousin · 23/03/2014 20:47

Obviously happens to quite a few of us!

Artandco · 23/03/2014 20:47

Quiet coach just means No talking for hours on phone or loud music though. No reason kids can't be in there

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 23/03/2014 20:47

Relieved, I'm not a monster (yet Grin ).

Kiwi, I agree if it was the only seat left, then I would happily sit through the noise. The train I travelled on today was not very busy, there were plenty of seats.

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 23/03/2014 20:48

I think the quiet coach means no electronic devices.

So unless the baby was plugged in you were probably being a bit u.

I think defining these coaches as such are misleading tbh because if you are in one and a fellow passenger is talking to another, or sneezing, or snoring you spend your time feeling all huffy thinking 'hmm this is supposed to be the quiet coach' and not getting any work done anyway.

Were there many tunnels?

littlebluedog12 · 23/03/2014 20:48

Not just me then Grin

Forgettable · 23/03/2014 20:49

Yes when booking seats one is not alerted to whether the coach is the quiet coach, we have been caught like this a few times. Nought to be done apartf rom ask the operators to enhance their choice on their websites.

RiverTam · 23/03/2014 20:50

yanbu, but I have booked tickets online and then found that I've been put in the quiet carriage - not a problem for me in those days pre-DC, but would be a problem now.

D0G · 23/03/2014 20:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ubik1 · 23/03/2014 20:50

Yes we have been allocated seats in the 'quiet coach' before.

It only means you can't use your mobile.

And frankly I couldn't give a toss about your previous expectations of who is allowed to travel in the ridiculous 'quiet coach'

I also travel first class with my three occasionally - is that ok too?

pancakesfortea · 23/03/2014 20:51

Like everyone has already said, you need to direct your rage at the booking system. Countless times I have booked tickets online, including child fares, and we are put in the quiet coach. And changing carriages with small kids and luggage isn't always easy.

Bunbaker · 23/03/2014 20:52

I think they should add that to the online booking details, and maybe have a lower age limit allowed in the quiet coach so that it is quiet most of the time.
Maybe they should have coaches aimed at families as well.

Original poster
someonestolemynick · 23/03/2014 20:53

To my knowledge, there is no option to reserve seats on the train I used today.

Artandco, chiltern, with whom I travelled, also ask for conversational noise to be kept to a minimimum and I doubt most small children would be able to sit quietly for the length of a journey. Why would a parent ask that of their children? (...or not but expecting fellow passengers to suck it up).

OP posts:
Cotherstone · 23/03/2014 20:54

Every time I've booked seats I've always been asked whether I want the quiet coach or not.

pancakesfortea · 23/03/2014 20:54

OP if there were loads of empty seats why didn't you move?

Rommell · 23/03/2014 20:54

'Quiet coach' just means no mobiles or electronic devices. If you want exclusivity, stump up for first class. Or just suck it the fuck up.

Sparklysilversequins · 23/03/2014 20:54

Tough.

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