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?

Or ones going to Waterloo to get the Eurostar.

Quite common actually.

rucksackers are second on my shitlist of "train arseholes".

With their unreasonable desire to carry their belongings in a practical fashion?

I am only sorry that it took me until 2 years ago to realise that a rucksack was much easier on a train than a suitcase. Leaves hands free and fits on the overhead rack. Much better for all than trying to wheel case through carriage and have no room for it to fit.

It's ok carrying a rucksack, as long as you have an awareness that when you turn round, the rucksack is still attached to you, and will smack people on the face if you're not careful, which I have often seen happen on trains.

There is no room to turn around with it on a train! You can at least pass someone, which you can't with a suitcase.
It is the same as the food issue- consideration for others.

Yes exactly, but some can't seem to manage that. I've often seen seated or shorter people get twatted in the face by some dick's rucksack

Issue with rucksacks is people always hit me in the face when they turn around and it takes up space.

I always take mine off and put it on a rack. If I'm on the tube I'll either stand it on my feet or stand with my back to the wall.

It's the only way to pack your stuff if you're also carting skis or other bulky items around too. Those wheely suitcases wouldn't be at all practical.

It takes up space

So what receptacle do you approve of? If people are having to carry stuff around?

Hester I mean when it's on someone's back its taking up space, if you put it on the rack that's fine.

I'm sick of getting hit in the face with rucksacks

'Hester rucksackers are second on my shitlist of "train arseholes". angry'

You really don't like people much, do you? They seem to make you so angry. What a shame.

expat i don't mind people. Quite like some of them. But when you regularly get the train and the same incidents keep happening it does get annoying

So - no food, no bulky luggage. What next? No dogs- no bikes?

What next? No dogs- no bikes?

See Southern policy:

During peak periods, many of our services are extremely busy, therefore regular (non-folding) cycles cannot be carried on many of our services during these times. Fully folding cycles are welcome on our trains at any time and we ask that these are fully folded and carried before going through the ticket gates.

The following restrictions apply:

Regular (non-folding) cycles cannot be carried:

On services due to arrive into London/Brighton or Kensington Olympia (the Red zones) between 07:00 and 10:00 Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
On services due to depart from London/Brighton or Kensington Olympia (the Red zones) between 16:00 – 19:00 Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

Nothing about food or your rucksack, Mehita. Haterz gonna hate.

I am taking my knitting next week - I do keep the needles well in!

The clicking will surely irritate. Some people have a lot of noise sensitivity, you know.

I hope you're thinking of breathing while you're on the train, Mehitabel. Other people breathing gives me headaches. Don't be selfish.

NOT thinking.

Even my PC is being selfish tonight.

Breathing is outrageous behaviour

Surely expat you can go without breathing for your 10 hour journey? Jeez!

As for knitting

I am sick of getting hit in the face with rucksacks

Maybe they are just doing to try distract you from feeling sick

As for you breathers. As long as you are considerate. I only inhale at stations when the doors are open. I wait until the next stop to exhale. And of course I never fully inflate my lungs incase I impinge on someone else space.

It's just manners really.

I don't mind it as long as they're not sitting next to me. I can't take the sounds and sight of anyone eating smelly food in close proximity to me. Its horrible on a tube train. Etiquette is the issue I suppose..Id never eat a full meal in the street or on a bus or tube train. Long train journeys are different - if there are tables and people put the food in front of them and eat then why not. Then again I don't do hours long train journeys as some on this thread claim they do. & if I had to, Id eat first. Im not afraid that I'll starve if a full meal isn't readily and easily available at all times, Im fine to eat a sandwich on a train. Its enough

I've just polished off a bag of cream cheese and jalopeno crisps. I'm on a 5 hour train journey and plan to eat my way home.

'Then again I don't do hours long train journeys as some on this thread claim they do. & if I had to, Id eat first. Im not afraid that I'll starve if a full meal isn't readily and easily available at all times, Im fine to eat a sandwich on a train. Its enough'

Here's your .

Good for you. I can't go without eating on a long journey as I am fucking diabetic.

"As some claim they do "????

Oh that's right, they're lying! For the purposes of the thread! In reality of course, everyone lives and works in the south east, therefore journeys of more than two hours are actually imaginary.

I will eat on a train if I am hungry. Generally I am not a snacker, so these times will usually coincide with lunch. I will continue to eat my lunch at lunch time if I am on a 5 or 6 hour train journey. I'll try and do this without eating with my mouth open, talking with my mouth full or any other genuinely distasteful things.

I wonder what a Russian or an Indian or a Chinese would make of this thread. Their train journeys can last days, but even so, I imagine they eat when they need to. I should think they would be shaking their heads with incredulity.