Eating on Trains

[likepebblesonabeach]

I travel on the train daily to work, 30 mins each way. I've just came back from a 3 hour train journey and was shocked that a family of 4 got on with fish and chips. The whole carriage was stinking of fish and chips and the majority of passengers were on the train the whole journey so had to put up with this for 3 hours.
AIBU that if you travel on public transport you should be aware of those around you?

Very, very common these days when so many airlines don't offer any type of refreshments.

If they hadn't had their fish and chips kids could have been hungry, whiny and grumpy - something else for people to complain about!

Do you not know that they sell hot food on trains, so banning it is not an option. I bought a hot meal then last time I went on a long train journey.

The smell of coffee turns my stomach
I'd not demand someone doesn't drink coffee on a train because its frankly insane

And McDs doesn't smell 😉

Yeah I kind of agree with this too. When I have a random Jack Russell on a long lead coming over and sniffing me and others in the carriage, like what happened a few months ago - that to me is of more concern and more anti-social. I’ve always said they need designated dog free and dog friendly carriages like they do in other countries.

But yeah at this point I’m not telling anyone to not bring a bag of chips on when someone can bring their staffy dog on.

Coffee stinks as well.

Wow, just wow.

So do you suggest we socially ban anything someone might consider smelly, or only the things you personally don't look like?
For me it would be dogs, coffee and hair sprays.

FGS...

Pretty much all food has it's own smell.

Barring probably plain boiled rice or a plate of iceberg lettuce, neither of which are appealing or practical travel foods, eating anything in a confined space like a train carriage is going to result in something that someone can smell.

I don't find the smell of McDonalds particularly offensive. I do find the smell of tuna sandwiches vomit-inducing. So, that is a 'me' problem, I'll have to deal with that, the answer is certainly not to brand various humans as barbarians for eating something you don't like the smell of!

Very few foods are so universally odiferous that they shouldn't be taken on trains (kippers, durian fruit..). Suck it up... or move... or don't use the train!

You are obtuse and digging deeper. I'm enjoying this enormously because it's hilarious.

Now why am I not surprised at this line....

You sound like such a fun!

"The train serves hot food" is not a childish, selfish reason BTW

If the train itself serves something then it, by definition, cannot be something that is banned or offensive to have on the train. Because they themselves are selling it!

And a "proper" overground train is not like a tube at all. And we all know what that OP meant.

I work on trains and there are far worse things than the smell of fish and chips! I obviously travel on trains a lot as part of my job and i would absolutely eat my lunch on the journey rather than cram it into the 20 minutes “break” I get at a station.

Not sure when we became so intolerant of everyone else around us. suck it up and move on

Calling others self centred because you want to them to pander to your sensitivities?? Ohhhhhh the irony 😂😂😂😂

We can’t make rules based on keeping EVERYONE happy.

We can’t keep making rules so everyone feels comfortable ALL of the time.

Sometimes you just need to accept the world doesn’t revolve around you.

😆😆

Agree. I am far more bothered about dogs on trains, followed by people playing noisy music/podcasts/conversations/TV programmes out loud on their phones/devices.

I eat crisps on trains not at 8am though

I recently got on a train departing London with a man eating a full, hot lobster in the coach 😩
It stank. I thought there was something wrong with the toilet, but no, just this gross man tucking into a lobster

I was raised by cranks who complained about every smell around them for years.
So I am indoctrinated to consider the smell of things around others in all circumstances 😂
I would never eat anything smelly on a train.
I would never paint my nails in an enclosed space.
I wouldn't spray perfume.
But most people don't fall over themselves to be considerate of others.
Fish and chips on a train is grim. Beside the point but I'd hate eating that in a packed trained full of people too!
It's much better waiting til you get home and pig out in peace!

I’m confused about why fish and chips are disgusting on a train but not in a pub or restaurant.

You and me both!

But a PP started spouting on about tube trains for some irrelevant reason!

I eat on trains all the time. Many times it is served by the train company itself in 1st class - scrambled eggs on toast is a frequent go to in the morning, others have smoked salmon, bacon rolls etc. they all have an aroma. I've seen multiple people with McDonalds, pizza, KFC etc. personally I can't abide the stench of fried chicken, it is repulsive. McDonald's also has a strong distinctive smell. Pizza it depends on the toppings, pepperoni is nasty! Sushi is also gross. But none of it is as bad as BO, unwashed clothes, farty people, people who bathed in old lady musky perfume / cheap body spray etc. Unfortunately they are all a part of public transport. I could drive (would take double the time and triple the stress) but the train is more convenient, even if it is stinkier than my car.

I've only seen this "eating in public is disgusting" thing on mumsnet. Literally never heard of it in real life. I don't know if it's a window into an older generation who had this rule, or just a small but very vocal minority in some places.

I'd rather smell fish and chips than perfume or BO, personally. But accept I have to put up with all of them.

I was going to mention all the rank chicken in cardboard boxes consumed on buses by the teenagers. F'ing revolting. Rubbing their stinky chicken fingers all over the bus seats.

Why is eating fish and chips ‘pigging out’?

It’s just eating food, isn’t it?

I boarded a train at 3.07pm and I'm not getting off until almost midnight. I'm not waiting for home until "pigging out". As it happens, I had peanut chicken satay and baked fries that I bought in the station and I'm in first class so I'll have whatever hot option they have later.. or a grazing plate with various meats.

You have less personal space on a train