Do people really consider it unreasonable to eat on the train?

[MyNewBearTotoro]

Reading another thread in which a poster mentioned eating on the train and I was really surprised by the responses calling her unreasonable/ antisocial for bringing food onto the train and the vitriol she was facing for this alone.

Do people really consider it unreasonable to eat on the train or is this just one of those 'only on Mumsnet' things?

I know it's not pleasant to be stuck next to someone eating smelly food, but equally lots of things are unpleasant on trains - being crammed in close to a stranger, oversized luggage, crying babies, other people's conversations, air-conditioning to high/low etc - but just because some people may find it unpleasant does that automatically make it unreasonable or anti-social?

In an ideal world people would not bring smelly food onto the train, but in an ideal world neither would people bring on crying babies/ noisy children etc but we are human and we need to eat, especially as many people will be making journeys over several hours long. Choices of food are usually limited by either what is available on board the train or what is available from the shops on/ around the station and sometimes hot or fast food is the only option available.

Obviously hot food is permitted on trains, my local train company has buffet carriages which sell hot food (including bacon rolls) and sandwiches (including tuna fish or egg mayo) for people to buy. So I'm not questioning whether it's allowed but I guess I'm curious as to whether people genuinely think it shouldn't be. And, considering it is allowed, are people who do eat on trains genuinely considered anti-social or unreasonable by some?

VoyageofDad I have read that article and I abide by every bit of it. However, you appear to be calling other people eating absolutely anything as "revolting".

I don't chew with my mouth open, I clear up after myself, I don't slurp and no one normal would be offended by my eating unless they found the very act "revolting" because of some issue or other.

I think you will find everyone on here is pretty considerate of their fellow human beings and this thread is just posters getting frustrated with the complete abhorrence of something so normal as having to eat when on a journey.

And yes it does mention burgers as an OK food.

I agree with the article. I expect that most of us posting do.
He is saying that it is perfectly normal to eat on trains (even the 7.20 to Waterloo, I imagine) - just be considerate.
Cold curry at 7.20 is inconsiderate but a bacon bap isn't.
Coffee is perfectly acceptable.

The main point, that has my full agreement , is don't leave any litter.

He may not have mentioned a bacon bap in particular but he most definitely says that a plain burger is acceptable and therefore a plain bacon bap must be fine.

26 pages about food on trains!
You could not make it up.

For the record, I really really don't care and have other things to wrroy about in my life but agree with the 'don't litter' bit.

Typical MN stuff PacificDogwood.
A non problem in RL.

It made for entertaining breakfast reading, Mehitabel

It is the sort of thread I love! Totally bizarre.

Voyage what do you mean, I know the thread total. AIBU to consider eating on the train? My answer - No, YANBU to consider eating on the train.

Voyage, I will repeat again. The complete frustration with the eaters is being labelled as "inconsiderate, ignorant" for daring to eat a sandwich on a train journey. As I, and others, have emphasised continually - we clear up after ourselves, we consider our fellow passengers, we don't 'masticate' with our mouths open. (that word you use BTW is a deliberately inflammatory word, we are not cows. Rude). Yet, you label all eaters as rude, ignorant etc.

If you want to go down that route (you started it!) I would label you lot swooning and fainting over someone eating a sandwich as precious, pathetic, wet, drippy and you should just man up and accept that sometimes people want and need to eat fo very many different reasons. And food is sold everywhere so you lot just have to accept it. Because us on this thread do consider our fellow travellers. However, we will continue to eat (a normal bodily function that is freely accepted on the public transport system.)

I, personally, have tried to bring a level of sensible to this thread and Tali has to some degree accepted that and as a result of me mentioning a possible condition she may have, she is going to explore further. You just seem to want to label everyone rudely.

Mehitabel Agree! I do enjoy a good ridiculous thread.

You should follow whatever rules there are. When we travel all the way from London to the NE it is perfectly reasonable to expect people to be allowed to eat the food they bring with them as the journey time is so long and the trains sell food anyway.
I would never leave any mess.

Generally we're English so most of us on the thread will try not to upset others.

A bigger issue is nuts on planes where a very very few people can die if anyone gets a nut from home out of their lunch box. I have eaten nuts on planes although without realising that might kill a passenger of course.

The tube and 'a train' are not exactly the same anyway. Most of the 'eaters' have been discussing long journey, overland trains which might even have tables and possibly a buffet service.

Some unreasonable posters have been saying it is not ok to eat anything (other than bread) on any train.

I very much doubt I would eat on the tube. Although unless someone was spilling food / drink on me I doubt I'd get to catsbum faced if someone else was.

I've eaten on the tube - I ate a pack of grapes after I'd been speaking for 7 hours, last week on the tube home. Apart from the fact just about no one could see me eating them there would be no smell. I saw no signs banning eating. I don't think I would have bothered anyone. We all know what is really the issue - crowded short journey trams/tubes where someone comes on with some massive smelly meal.

I wish 3rd class carriages could be reintroduced on public transport. If you wish to eat, or generally make yourself a nuisance, they would be for you. The rest of us could use 2nd (or 1st) and have a peaceful and quiet life.

Problem solved.

I was in first class the other day and everyone was having hot cooked breakfasts. I don't even like breakfast but I had one, gotta get my money's worth!!

Indeed. Most people eat in first class as the food is included in the cost. I think I had a tuna and red onion sandwich last time but lots of people chose the hot option.

Yes, first class means food! So all you ones that can't bear eating, don't go in first class. Third class for anyone who needs to eat haha

There needs to be a third class for precious snowflakes who can't deal with everyday situations.

There is absolutely no food served in 1st class in commuting trains! (or in 2nd)

I am not talking about the Eurostar here.

I don't care where the ill-mannered people go with their stinky food, but if it was 1st class only, they would then moan saying "i can't afford to pay for that, innit".

I am truly baffled: why do you enjoy making other people life a misery? Why don't you behave and show consideration for others? Do you actually enjoy it? Is your life so miserable and sad that it makes you feel better to be a nuisance, stink the place up, keep your seat when someone else needs it, be noisy?

Gosh, that is so sad, but I can't feel sorry for you, you are just annoying.

If you are talking about long distance rail on British railways of course first class serves food! It is the place to go if you're fat and want to get fatter!

Gosh it's like groundhog day on here! mrsjanedoe RTFT. You haven't, that much is obvious.

Gosh Voyage you are so clever splitting hairs there! Same meaning. I consider it reasonable. You consider it unreasonable. End of.