Miserable sods on train

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

Coming home today. Woman opposite proposed 'adults only' carriages because some kids were making a bit of noise. She 'didn't expect that in First Class'.

She also complained about the choice of butties, the coffee - not hot enough and not replenished often enough - and the seats. Seriously love...bog off!

I am doing a 4 hour train journey with a 4yr old and a 2yr old this weekend. Dreading it slightly but would never put them in 1st class out of consideration for others. I think she probably had a point, but the quiet carriages should be child-free really, so perhaps make that an additional rule of the quiet carriage if people are daft enough to think that to take children in quiet carriages is appropriate.

I always book quiet coach but last journey back from London I ended up doing a corbyn and sitting on the floor at the end despite having a seat because there was a small child screaming at the top of her voice because her (actually lovely) parents weren't letting her run up and down. Luckily the novelty of a stranger with a whole lot of new (mostly very quiet, honest) games proved enough of a distraction. And being childless from choice but very fond of other people's children (mainly because you can hand them back) I was quite happy. I certainly wouldn't have thought about complaining.

Ps and no I wouldn't complain about no alcohol at weekend. Catering arrangements are publicised as being different at weekends (at least on virgin East coast they are) and the tickets are correspondingly cheaper. And

However, the issue is how those children are parented while on public transport. The issues people are highlighting are ones that are anti-social in the context of a bus or train, regardless of age, including listening to an electronic device without headphones, kicking seats and scooting up and down a carriage

Yes, yes, yes!

I've been thinking generally about this - people on this thread saying its's public transport - well durr, yes, as my young people would say to me. But I think it's reasonable to expect a level of consideration and respect for sharing that space from everyone.

My right to work on the train is equal to your children's right to be on the train. If I spread my work over 3 seats & a table, that would be rude & disrespectful of others' space. Ditto, your children shouting & running up & down the carriage. Ditto anyone using an electronic device without headphones. Ditto anyone making noise in the Quiet Carriage.

I agree it's about how you parent on trains (or in other confined public spaces) but based on frequent use of public transport with kids I think people (a) assume all children will be awful and (b) have ridiculous expectations of children being really quiet. Kicking seat, screaming etc is all pretty intolerable and obv the parent should do all they can to prevent it but kids should not be expected to be silent. I've lost count of the times fellow passangers have huffed, rolled eyes, moved seat because my 4 year old talked to me!

I once travelled with my youngest dd on the last train and had upgraded to first class so as not to have to cope with the drunks.
There was one other person on the coach, tapping away on her laptop (ugh long nails sound) and using her mobile. Ds, aged about 18 mths, ate a sandwich and watched a film on my iPad (wearing headphones) before falling asleep. I think he said about three words to me in that time and all quietly.
The lady still took it upon to complain about the child to the guard.
Some people just assume that children are going to be noisy and inconsiderate and that's what they see them as regardless of how they're truly behaving.

*youngest dc (not sure Ds would be impressed)

Womancalledjayne, similar situ has happened to me. Took 4 year old on day out, bought first class outward tickets cos its was actually cheaper (!). We sat down and woman opposite us glared and then spine to first class attendant. I didn't hear the conversation but she ended up moving. Attent told me as she took our free brekkie order (yey) that she had asked if we could move but she had very kindly explained on our behalf that we had tickets and as much right to be in our booked seats as she did and hence she moved. My son was pretty quiet on the journey, totally overjoyed by the free breakfast and when this woman complained he had only just sat down!

By the sounds of it, this woman wasn't just complaining about the children; she was complaining about everything and, by the sounds of it, rather spoiling the OP's journey. Not a problem you could solve by adult-only carriages.