Utterly odd exchange on the train

[notabletocope]

Loads of empty seats on the train carriage that I’ve got on.

So because there’s loads of room and I’m early I sit down at a table facing forwards.This woman comes up and says ‘I like to sit facing forward and at a table, do you mind if I sit next to you?’

I said yeah sure no probs.

So we are squashed like sardines whilst there’s loads of empty seats (without tables) all around us.
I got up and said actually I’ll just go over here nil probs and she was like ohhh are you sure?

Yes I’m sure lol because I don’t want to sit next to you squashed up for the next 3 hours whilst there are loads of seats!

How bizarre

Surely you’d just say to yourself ‘oh well the table seat is taken, I’ll sit somewhere else in the other 59 forward facing seats available’? Or AIBU?

I said yeah sure no probs- apparently this wasn't strictly true

She might be one of those (strange) people who likes to be around other people all of the time. I would have moved away too.

Meh, she wanted to be at a table on a 3 hour journey. Reasonable enough, it'll likely fill up anyway won't it?

I don’t know what’s going on with that person, the world is full of strange ones. Good job you moved. Probably she would have talked to you for three hours.

I wouldn't have moved. I would have picked up my book or my phone and carried on with my journey regardless. Why were you so bothered?

Herd mentality.. Smae as car park spaces and cinema seats.

That is quite strange for sure ! I was once on a train and a guy started writing me notes that he couldn’t talk and people had threatened him etc, it was so creepy. 2 girls my age sat opposite me and I mouthed at them to run. When they got off the carriage I was able to escape with them it was so freaky!

Did she use the table?

Very strange, I admire you for moving! I’d have probably sat there hating every minute.

I can only sit forward facing on a train otherwise I get travel sick. I'd only sit beside someone if there were no other suitable seats though.

Yes I think she's using it, just went by to the cafe and saw her resting her book on it

Because she didn’t wanted to be squashed up elbow to elbow with someone in an otherwise empty carriage?

I’d have said no, OP. As in, yes, I would mind. Obviously, she had every right to take any unoccupied seat, but I wouldn’t have pretended to be ok with it. If she’d insisted on sitting beside me, I’d have moved immediately.

Well only because it was empty all around us whilst we sat next to each other, legs and elbows touching

Ok update haha. She's just got off, 45 mins into journey!

She wanted to use a table. Yabu in this.

New pal OP 😁 maybe lonely and wanted a chat?

Overall she just sounds socially awkward, honestly there are a LOT worse people and situations to encounter on public transport.

Weirdly enough I exclusively used coach travel for a few years for budget reasons, but have switched back to trains at present due to time constraints.

Trains actually seem to have got a lot shitter and weirder, despite normally being the more expensive option so ostensibly nicer.

There's often some situation with seats or reservations (ie just not working so it becomes anarchy and a fight) , or odd behaviour.

How busy is the train now?

She’s gone to find someone else to sit next to.

Not unreasonable to want to use a table. A bit odd to not sit opposite you tho.

I probably wouldn't have sat at a table seat in the first place if there were normal double seats available, as it reduces the number of people who might sit near me and the need to avoid bumping feet if someone sits opposite me.

Yeah. I could have maybe offered to sit on the other side actually, thinking about it

Same.

If I'm on my own I'll always pick a 2 as then the lowest chance of someone else 'with' me.

Our local trains has groups of 6 and I always find it bloody stupid when we get on and a single person has sat in a 6 and then acts annoyed if we join them.

#@notabletocope

Some people 🙄 are just like social lemmings

I've been on few occasions on trains on my own night time and it's weirdly disorienting earie like something out of the Matrix movie 🎬 or something,

I couldn't wait to get off the train as soon as possible,

I don't feel like this travelling on a bus on my own at all

Does anybody else feel the same way travelling on a train night time on their own when nobody is in your train carriage then?

People are strange. I was once alone in an empty train carriage and a chap asked me to kindly move my bag that was right next to me. He sat down and I quickly moved carriages !🙄

Totally weird.

I think I'd have replied "Why?" When she asked if she could sit next to me.

But I'm old so have zero fucks left to give.

It's quite a common fare dodging tactic. Cosy up to someone who has got on the train earlier and the inspector might think they've already checked tickets.