Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Train conundrum. WIBU?

43 replies

Darknessinthevalley · 22/04/2018 15:09

I'm on a train that has had issues, so anyone is welcome in first class. I actually had a first class ticket, so I'm in my reserved seat at a table of four.
I'm at the window seat, forward facing. Theres an older man in the backwards facing aisle seat, which he chose. He's very pleasant by all accounts, made some pleasant small talk with him.
A couple, not booked in first class, came and sat with us. The young man asked the older man to move to the window, which he refused to do, as he liked the aisle seat.
The younger woman then asked me to move to the aisle, which I said I did not want to do. She threw herself down next to me and huffed at how smug we were.
I can't work out if I should've moved, they've now stopped off to sit on the floor because at least they'll be together.

OP posts:

Kazzyhoward · 22/04/2018 16:00

I don't know anyone who actually prefers facing backwards!

I do, far prefer it. I always think you can see things better backwards as the views seem to be there for longer, whereas when looking forwards, it all seems to flash past without you having time to look properly.

SecretNutellaFix · 22/04/2018 16:04

You do realise that you don't spend all of a train journey facing the same direction?

Collaborate · 22/04/2018 16:07

You do realise that you don't spend all of a train journey facing the same direction?

Yes you do. You really do.

GreenEyedGoose · 22/04/2018 16:07

Secret

grumpy4squash · 22/04/2018 16:08

You do realise that you don't spend all of a train journey facing the same direction?

Normally you do, hence forward and rear facing seats. Or did you mean that you turn your head from time to time?

tygr · 22/04/2018 16:11

Occasionally trains change direction mid journey - into and back out of Caerphilly for example - but otherwise, you're really are usually always facing either in the direction of travel or against for the whole journey.

tygr · 22/04/2018 16:13

I think I meant Llanelli. Anyway, point still stands.

MirandaWest · 22/04/2018 16:13

You generally do although sometimes a train may go into and out of a station the same way so it does reverse

SecretNutellaFix · 22/04/2018 16:15

Not my most often taken journey.

Cardiff to West Wales. I start out facing front, then Swansea you reverse out and stay that way for a while. By the time I get to my end point I'm back forward facing again.

blueskyinmarch · 22/04/2018 16:16

They WBU. They were getting a seat. How childish at stropping about not being seated together. I would never move from my forward facing window seat unless there was a very good reason to do so. This was not a good reason imo.

Babyplaymat · 22/04/2018 16:17

I would presume rhat the OP knows whether that is applicable to her situation though. I've always stayed facing the same way on my usual trips.

I know many who would rather travel backwards as it is meant to be safer in the event of an accident.

Glumglowworm · 22/04/2018 16:19

NBU to politely ask if either of you would mind moving so they could sit together

you and the man were NBU to refuse to move as you’d chosen the seats for your own reasons (I’m assuming he would’ve stood up to let one of them take the window seat next to him while he kept his aisle seat. If not then hwbu)

Absolutely they were BU to have a strop about it! It really wouldn’t have mattered for them to sit diagonally across from each other!

SecretNutellaFix · 22/04/2018 16:19

True. I wouldn't give my seat up anyway, in these circumstances. I prefer a window seat too. :)

ButchyRestingFace · 22/04/2018 16:20

You do realise that you don't spend all of a train journey facing the same direction?

You don't if you get up halfway through the journey and swap seats.

I don't do this though, so I spend every journey facing in the direction that God intended me to - FORWARD.

ButchyRestingFace · 22/04/2018 16:22

I can't work out if I should've moved, they've now stopped off to sit on the floor because at least they'll be together.

Passive aggression is always so beautiful to behold...

GorgonLondon · 22/04/2018 16:22

They must be passionate Jeremy Corbyn fans emulating the Great Leader, who once memorably sat on the floor on the train with many empty seats, and when this was exposed claimed it was because he couldn't sit next to his wife.

Missingstreetlife · 22/04/2018 16:30

Isn't backward facing supposed to be safer? Anyway his choice not to move

Petalflowers · 22/04/2018 16:32

So the couple would have still be sitting at the same table, just diagnally, and not opposite? What’s the problem in that? They were being silly. You did nothing wrong. I also prefer facing forward, at least on longer journeys.

Flip

1 2