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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Quiet carriage?

21 replies

APotNoodleandaTommy · 14/10/2014 10:21

I'm currently stuck on an 11-carriage train to London. I have booked in the Quiet Carriage to try to have a snooze baby is allergic to sleep
Woman behind is talking constantly and loudly about utter tripe. The man she's talking at to is being fairly non-committal and quiet but she's not getting it.
WIBU to ask her to hush up or move?! She's the only person in the carriage talking and it's very vexing!

OP posts:
NickiFury · 14/10/2014 10:22

I'd just move but I would huff and puff and make sure she knew why.

jammygem · 14/10/2014 10:23

You have my sympathies - I always try to travel in the Quiet Carriage if possible, and it always annoys me when people start wittering on loudly. It may be worth pointing out to her that it is the Quiet Carriage, it may just be that she's unaware.

YANBU.

InfinitySeven · 14/10/2014 10:23

She'll probably be expecting someone to ask.

The quiet carriage doesn't really work if the train is full, so there isn't usually one on peak time trains, but I'm guessing your train will have seats elsewhere as it's past 10am now. Suggest that she moves to one, politely.

I've never seen anyone not shut up then!

RiverTam · 14/10/2014 10:25

Quiet carriages are very tricky because when you book online a lot of the time you get given a seat in the quiet carriage without wanting it - this has happened to me on a number of occasions - not a prob for me as I don't listen to music or chat on my phone, but it must be pretty annoying for other people who haven't asked for this carriage.

You could ask her politely, of course, she may be completely unaware that she's in a quiet carriage - but if she didn't ask to be there you may have to put up with it or move.

WhereYouLeftIt · 14/10/2014 10:26

I would ask her to STFU please respect that she is in the Quiet carriage.

Daddypigsgusset · 14/10/2014 10:29

I'd tell her to shut up or move

MrsCurrent · 14/10/2014 10:29

I'm such a chicken I would get the guard to do it!

Original poster
APotNoodleandaTommy · 14/10/2014 10:35

As a confrontation-avoider, I'm currently hoping the power of my mind will shut her up...

OP posts:
maninawomansworld · 14/10/2014 10:42

Have a word with the guard / ticket inspector?

LiverpoolLou · 14/10/2014 11:23

I thought the quiet carriage meant no noisy electronics not no talking.

redexpat · 14/10/2014 11:36

The qcs ive been in say mo electronics, and please be considerate to other passengers so i think ywnbu to ask her to keep it down a bit.

wildfig · 14/10/2014 11:37

I know the party line about the QC is 'no electronic equipment, talking is fine' - but I can never understand why anyone would choose to conduct personal conversations in the rageful silence of a carriage of conspicuous readers/workers/crossworders? Unless the train is full. Which it never has been on the regular times I've had to employ mind meld tactics to will people to keep it down to a dull roar.

As for the train guards, the last loud yakker was a train guard, who'd settled himself at a double table to moan to his mate about the failings of Unnamed Railway Company - in the restful atmos of the Quiet Carriage...

bodhranbae · 14/10/2014 11:37

I thought it meant electronics too.

I can zone out of noise but it is smells that drive me mad - stinky burgers, too much after-shave, fag smoke etc. I would happily pay extra for an odour-free carriage.

DejaVuAllOverAgain · 14/10/2014 11:38

I doubt talking is banned but you'd think someone would make the effort to keep their voice down a bit in the quiet carriage.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 14/10/2014 11:38

East Coast say: "To help keep things tranquil there are a few rules we need you to abide by in the quiet coach. Mobile phone calls and noise from electronic devices are strictly forbidden, and conversations must be conducted quietly, so everyone can escape distractions or enjoy a nap."

Aridane · 14/10/2014 11:38

Ask her politely to down it down - and if too reticent to do this, ask the guard / ticket inspector to do so

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 14/10/2014 11:38

The problem is who defines what is 'quiet' as far as conversations go?

theparadoxofourage · 14/10/2014 12:13

Ugh this drives me mad. One time I was listening to music on my phone with my headphones in (and they were making ABSOLUTELY no noise, I always check they're making no noise before putting them in and had subtitles on as I was watching a film it was that quiet, I only had them in to block out noise as they're noise cancelling to an extent) and I had a woman come and sit near me and tell me 'no electronics allowed'. I pointed out that there was no way she could hear the noise and she sort of went to argue again but realized I wasn't going to budge. She then promptly spent the whole time talking loudly to her husband, in fact loud enough that her conversation intruded into my headphones. YANBU. Also people who leave their phones to go off in the quiet carriage and take forever to answer them...

Kerberos · 14/10/2014 12:19

I got told off once for talking loudly in the quiet carriage. Was mortifying at the time but I do pay more attention than I did to taking volume in the QC. Mine is a hard core commuter line so such crimes are not tolerated.

If you don't want to make a fuss can you move?

ApocalypseNowt · 14/10/2014 12:28

Why don't you ask her "Excuse me do you know if this is the quiet carriage....oh nevermind...that sign says it is...."

Or if she can't see you just start making some 'ssshhhhh' noises... Grin

JeanneDeMontbaston · 14/10/2014 12:45

Goodness, ask. She can only say no.

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