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

[someonestolemynick]

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?

[Bunbaker]

If they had a designated family carriage they could make it one with a toilet with changing facilities. It's not rocket science.

[Rommell]

See, a family carriage would be my idea of hell. I'm imagining a souped-up Wacky Warehouse on wheels. I'd rather gnaw my own fucking arm off.

[Only1scoop]

Yanbu Op

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Thanks pickle I had assumed that was the case, then this thread made me think otherwise.

I don't think my headphones leak noise, not at the volume I.listen, will have a test and see!

[Ubik1]

I hate train travel with children in this country. I travel Scotland to London alone with three young children several times a year. It's so stressful that usually I go straight to bed when I get in. And my children are well behaved (most children are.)

We have endured adults sitting in our reserved seats and refusing to move, temperatures so high I had to strip the baby down to her vest, toilets breaking, overcrowding causing toilets to be locked (that's fun when toilet training) vomiting on the pendolino, swearing stag parties, headphones turned up so high you are treated the the latest Lady Ga Ga, swearing, farting, people bringing on stinking fast food, 'business' conversations conducted ad nauseam...

Frankly a wailing baby in the quiet carriage ain't so bad compared to the adults.

[WeAreSix]

Am I the only one who hasn't heard of a quiet coach? I had no idea such thing existed!

[2kidslotsofmess]

as others have said, it's pot luck if you have children whether you end up with the quiet coach. there's no option to avoid it. so you take your seats or stand in normal. what would you do with two small children?

[MorrisZapp]

YANBU

However, it's the fault of the train companies. They are happy to advertise the quiet coach, put up nice notices etc but sometimes it just causes more stress because a) they leave it to passengers to 'enforce', and b) they merrily book people on it without telling them it's a quiet coach.

If they sorted it out properly, then us quiet coachers would have solid grounds for complaint when the rules were breached. But it's just a rammy isn't it. I hope it improves as the concept of a quiet coach trickles down, if it ever does.

[byanymeansnecessary]

Quiet coaches are the Parent and Toddler spaces of the public transport world.

Totally unnecessary and used purely to inflate certain types with a sense of their own importance.

[meganorks]

Well there isn't always a choice. I went and sat on the quiet coach to so some work. By the time the train left it was packed. People sitting on the floor by the doors. All the carriages were the same. There was a family spread across several sets of seats. When it gets like that how the hell is it supposed to be silent?! Didn't stop one old couple sighing and tutting constantly. Give it up!

[byanymeansnecessary]

Someone barged up to me on a quiet carriage once when I was sending a text on my phone, and was literally INCANDESCENT and screeched "can you turn the sound OFF, you are NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT"

Then the man sitting next to me pointed out to her that my phone was on silent, and the beeping was coming from the person in the seat behind me.

She just spun on her heel and marched off again how I laughed inside

Honestly, what is the point of getting so bent up about your 'entitlement' to travel in peace and quiet (which is always going to be subjective, anyway).

[Bunbaker]

I don't understand your point byany. I would rather travel in a quiet coach, but I am a quiet sort of person anyway, and not in the least self important, who IMO are the ones who chat incessantly on their mobiles.

[Pumpkinpositive]

What is the point of even having "quiet" coaches of the noise created by mobiles/iPods is not permitted but the noise creaked by crying/shrieking children is A-ok?

Seems to invalidate the whole concept of quiet coaches.

[Bunbaker]

Exactly Pumpkin. Quiet ought encompass the full meaning of the word.

[byanymeansnecessary]

What is 'quiet' to one is not going to be considered 'quiet' to another. It's not measurable - you just create a situation where some people think they're behaving within acceptable parameters, and others find those parameters unacceptable.

Fine for them to be no headphones/mobiles must be on silent or whatever carriages - that at least is a definite.

But saying everyone has to be 'quiet' just creates potential for disagreement.

Plus I don't really get why anyone (barring those with genuine sensory issues) 'needs' to sit in a quiet carriage because they don't. As someone said upthread, it's just so precious.

[Bunbaker]

" (barring those with genuine sensory issues) 'needs' to sit in a quiet carriage because they don't. As someone said upthread, it's just so precious."

Both OH and DD get unreasonably agitated by loud, jarring noises. I don't mind quiet, well behaved children, but can't stand squealers. I think most normal people wouldn't like to put up with squealing children either. You must have a very high tolerance level to noise.

[Delphiniumsblue]

'Quiet coach' means just that! A bit pointless having no mobiles if people sing rugby songs!!

[someonestolemynick]

I really don't understand why some people get so worked up about the expectation that one ought to exerciser basic consideration.

Yes, if you have children with you, and the quiet carriage has the last vacant seats available by all means sit there (and police your kids to be quiet ), but is it really so unreasonable to expect that, if there are seats available elsewhere, are you actually walking through the whole train to put your precious children in the quiet seat.

Btw I am not asking for grave silence, simply for people to keep others in mind; including their own children btw - again: why do you want to force them to be extra quiet, IF there are other seats available where people expect a bit of noise?

[byanymeansnecessary]

I wouldn't let me DC squeal on a train. I don't need a special little sign telling me that it's a 'quiet' area in order to be able to exercise basic consideration - I exercise that anyway.

Strange thread.

[byanymeansnecessary]

Go on, admit it, you just enjoy having something to get all cats-bum-mouthed about, don't you?

[byanymeansnecessary]

Sorry, I'll stop winding you up now.

I'm off to bed, enjoy your thread

[tethersend]

I just booked tickets for a trip up north with 1yo and a 5yo and have been allocated the quiet coach. I had no say in this whatsoever.

I think I'll sit in the seats rather than cower in the corridor for fear of upsetting other passengers though

[someonestolemynick]

byanymeans, Oh, I love my cats-bum-mouth, but only feel the need to go public cbm, for things that i feel very strongly about.

Again, yes, by all means sit in your reserved seats (and make sure the kids know some people sit their by choice).

[tethersend]

Yeah, I'll be sure to explain that to the one year old