Behaviour on trains

[Ghoulestofmums]

Inspired by the boiled egg gate thread, I understand that eating smelly food on trains and putting on make up on trains are both no no’s for MNers. (I rarely use trains so have no strong opinions).

However, I have an annual lengthy train trip and wonder how to avoid annoying fellow passengers, I have to leave home by 5.00am to drive to the station. Catch train at 6.00am, arrive 9.30 am, straight to all day meeting, catch train home at 4.30,pm (usually arriving back at station with 10 minutes maximum to spare) and arrive home around 8.15. Lunch is a working lunch with a few titchy sandwiches laid on,

Now, pre 5.00am I can’t face breakfast, or putting on make up. So the only chance I have to put on make up is on the train (colleagues waiting for me at destination station). And the only chance of food is a Danish etc from the station.

On the way back, after hardly any lunch (and it’s a working lunch anyway) I don’t have time to eat at the station but can only buy a baguette etc to eat on the train. By the time I get home at 8.15pm ish, I’m far too tired to eat.

Basically, then, my only down time is the train. What should I do?

In my experience people on trains are nothing like crazy people on MN who think that it's OK to shout in random passengers faces.

They even sell food from trollies on longer train journeys, so eating is expected, accepted and lawful. Go ahead and eat your breakfast.

Make up on the train is fine as long as you don’t flick powder around, keep your elbows in and don’t use any strong smelling products.

As others have said, food is fine as long as it’s not messy or very smelly. Again, elbows in!

Do your makeup on the train and eat to your hearts content but maybe avoid anything too smelly like egg or fish.

Only on MN are these things issues, nobody gives a shit in real life.

I regularly put makeup on during my train commute, i don't see an issue with it. This morning the conductor asked for my ticket when i was putting on stick contour so had lines over my gace. We both burst out laughed

I regularly travel long hours like you've described and always put my make up on during the journey and eat on the train - if the person sat next to me doesn't like it they can move. I cant eat sandwiches and the like so am guilty of having smelly foods like boiled eggs especially when I was pregnant and had GD.

Most food smells don’t bother me, I’ve never sat next to anyone applying make up so unsure how this could bother anyone unless of course the person applying the make up is poking you if sat next to them.

My main two killers are applying nail varnish..that chemical smell really isn’t cool, and watching/listening to something on your device with the sound up.

People are over sensitive to this kind of thing. A lot of people smell like shit, it's just something you put up with when going out in public.

Ever used the tube in the summer?

I genuinely don't understand how people can be arsed to care about things like people putting make up on on the train.
It must be an exhausting way to live your life always looking for things to be annoyed about and second guessing every move you make in case you annoy someone else.

Just live your life.

Unfortunately when you go outside you're going to have to encounter other people.

Just to add, please don't spray perfume, deodorant, body spray or hairspray!

If you put makeup on either use the toilet

Oh yes, much better idea to take up the the few toilets (if you’re lucky enough to have more than one) rather than site quietly and unobtrusively in a seat. FFS

Just to add, please don't spray perfume, deodorant, body spray or hairspray!

I'd prefer people not to wear perfume on public transport because some scents make me wheeze, but that is really my problem not theirs.

I was shocked at how much drinking happens on trains these days. On the Glasgow bound trains, people were hauling on 6 packs of beers and bottles of gin/mixer! I traveled into Liverpool recently (local train) and on the return leg, there were no tables that didn't have cans/bottles/wet surfaces.

I am not teetotal but it was pretty awful. Why can't we last 1 hour for a drink, or restrict drinking to 1-2 on long journeys?

WRT make up, don't put nail varnish on. It stinks. I was sorely tempted to accidentally on purpose knock a neighbours hand on the tube when she she did this. It's vile.

The Glasgow train was an inter-city.

Not sure why people have an issue with anyone doing make-up? It takes a few mins and doesn't cause a problem for anyone else - unless of course they need to get out past you and you've got your stuff spread everywhere so can't get up easily, but doubt you'll face that issue at 6am.

Also agree with everyone else re food, it's only stuff that smells that's a problem, a pastry would be fine.

@loldie99

Ooh yes I forgot about that one. That said the only reason I don’t like it is because 99% of the time the person doing this is usually spraying some cheap tat and I would prefer if they actually used Air Freshner!

hoxtonbabe
100% agree & who even uses body spray anymore? Yet I am repulsed by the horrors of impulse regularly on trains & buses. Must also agreed with previous poster about filing nails etc, I once suffered as man behind me clipped his toe nails on a packed bus.

I eat on the train, in fact the train company sell smelly food like chicken tikka masala! I also do my makeup occasionally. Most the complaints are about packed commuter trains not intercity trains

OP, don't overthink it beyond ensuring basic consideration for others. To be this concerned beforehand means you don't sound like the kind of person who would throw face powder over people or chomp noisily on a curry.

When you're forced into close proximity there has to be a bit of give and take on both sides. So yes, try not to be anti-social but also accept that if something - a smell, a sound, whatever - triggers you more than it would someone else then it's your problem to deal with.
And when trains sell food that includes egg or tuna sandwiches, then you have to expect that people will eat them!

I really do not understand why you wouldn't put make up on whilst on a train. I did most days for 20 years!
I also drank a coffee and are a croissant or cereal bar.

I tried to do the make up before the train was packed to the gills though, so first few stops when there was no-one next to me.

Coming home late from work of course you have a sandwich or a salad. They sell the bloody things in the train!

I was shocked at how much drinking happens on trains these days.
Reminded me of last year, i travelled to Wales, and a group of tipsy middle-aged women got in and started singing Xmas carols

Not sure why people have an issue with anyone doing make-up?

When I was growing up it was seen as slovenly behaviour if a woman put her make upon on the train / tube. Times have changed and more people need to put make up on due to longer commutes / early starts etc so it is outdated way of thinking.

Given that lots of trains sell food on them, I wouldn’t give it a second thought!

I have to do similar soon. I’m forking out for a cheap hotel because I hate mornings, egg sandwiches or not.

I don’t care about people applying make up on the train whatsoever, I understand most people are doing it because they didn’t get chance to before the train (probably in a rush, aren’t we all). I don’t care about people eating either provided it isn’t stinky food.