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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to sit on an empty train seat?

334 replies

NellieTheElephant1 · 23/04/2022 10:26

Travelling on a busy train to London, lady wearing a mask sitting on a window seat with her bags next to her on the aisle seat. No other seats available nearby. Asked her politely 'excuse me please' indicating that I wanted to sit there. She mumbled 'sorry no I need to distance'. Surely if you're that worried about Covid don't travel on public transport at busy times?

OP posts:
TrashyPanda · 26/04/2022 14:10

Blossomtoes · 26/04/2022 12:53

As a railway guard, making announcements threatening to charge for bags on seats generally works. If not, "could you find somewhere to put that?" has always had the desired effect. I've never had to actually follow through with the threat and actually charge someone. That's all off my own back though, pretty sure that there are no official policies on what to do with luggage on seats.

So, in other words, it’s an empty threat and you’re abusing your position. Useful to know. If any guard attempts this kind of nonsense with me in future I’ll have no compunction in reporting them. Thanks for the ammunition.

You don’t know which train company this poster works for.

it is most probable that different companies have different rules.

Butteryflakycrust83 · 26/04/2022 14:16

Wow, what a thread!

Your bag is fine on the seat unless it starts to get busy. Then you should move it, especially when you see people standing.

People who sit in the aisle/bags on seats/feet on chairs rely on people being too nervous to ask them to move. They almost always do when asked, but they are just chancers.

It is unbelievably selfish.

RampantIvy · 26/04/2022 15:15

Why so defensive @Blossomtoes?

Fulmine · 26/04/2022 15:22

Blossomtoes · 26/04/2022 07:11

If you bought two tickets, how would they even know one was for your bags?

If she was genuinely terrified, she wouldn't be sitting in a train seat in close proximity to the people sitting in front of and behind her

We don’t know that there were people in close proximity sitting in front of and behind her. And if there were they could have got on after her.

So much judgement based on so much conjecture.

Show quote history

By the same token, she didn't know whether people would come and sit in front of and behind her, and she couldn't prevent it if they did. So why would someone genuinely terrified of infection (which was the conjecture I was responding to) risk that?

Luculentus · 26/04/2022 15:24

yellowsuninthesky · 26/04/2022 09:13

It is basic etiquette that you do not hog seats with your bag

If the train is busy. Not if it isn't.

I would say it's basic etiquette that you don't sit next to someone if there's plenty of room (unless you know the train will fill up later and eg want to sit next to a slim female, rather than a manspreading fat guy).

I don't think it is, unless there are enough empty double seats. If there are only single seats available, it becomes selfish to say everyone else in the carriage has to put up with a neighbour whilst you keep your bags on the seat next to you.

Blossomtoes · 26/04/2022 15:29

RampantIvy · 26/04/2022 15:15

Why so defensive @Blossomtoes?

Years of jumped up little jobsworths.

Sennelier1 · 21/02/2023 18:30

I would've grabbed her bag, put it gently on the floor and sat myself on the chair.

Pottedpalm · 21/02/2023 18:54

I once boarded a crowded train and resigned myself to standing all the way to Euston when the guard announced over the tannoy ‘This train is very full, but I will be walking through shortly and getting as many passengers seated as I can. If you are currently taking up a seat with your bags please move them now or have your credit card ready to make payment of £(large amount) !
There were cheers…

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 22/02/2023 08:52

Sennelier1 · 21/02/2023 18:30

I would've grabbed her bag, put it gently on the floor and sat myself on the chair.

I would have not resurrected a thread from a year ago….

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