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?

And they sell food on trains so it's not selfish or inconsiderate to eat on a train ffs if you want to have a private service without other people around eating or talking 🙄 then pay for a private taxi!

Personally I'm not a fan of it on planes either, that sort of bulk-cooked school/hospital dinner smell makes me heave sometimes. And puts me off wanting to eat the food.

I agree that smelly food is bad manners... but where do you draw the line? Everyone finds different food smells offensive. Bacon sandwiches have been mentioned... but you can actually buy those on some trains. Or eating a sandwich on the tube... but people do that when getting g from A to B as that is their lunch sit down.. a tube journey can be 30 mins!. Even coffee stinks. Or eggs... not allowing someone in a car after eating an egg.. many people wouldn't notice the smell. Others obviously do.

Smelly food on trains is smelly. But it rarely kills you.

Not so very long ago I flew a 12 hour flight and had to sit in the smoker's area. Smelly food isn't the worst.

Food has been eaten on trains since they were invented and sold by the train companies. Hot and cold.

And they sell food on trains so it's not selfish or inconsiderate to eat on a train ffs if you want to have a private service without other people around eating or talking 🙄 then pay for a private taxi!

Just because something's allowed doesn't necessarily mean it isn't rude or inconsiderate. FFS.

Also "accepted standard" what does that mean in practical terms? And who gets to set the standard?

Sandwiches ✅

Hot smelly food - totally anti-social

So what do you do if you buy eg a sausage roll or bacon roll in the buffet car and eat it on the train? Or if you get similar at Pret/Greggs and eat it on the train? I’ve done this and others do this.

Bet you're one of those people who also wants to ban eating in cinemas luckily it will never happen so moan all you want 🤣

I agree

I find the smell of tuna just absolutely awful

But I honestly didn't realise that people found the smell of egg offensive - I can't smell it at all!

I have a colleague who hates the smell of banana

I think it's just not that hard and fast a thing

Exactly. Anything in theory you can buy at the station you either eat it there, on the train or take it home with you.

Nothing wrong with having a bite to eat on the train but fish curry, a whole pizza, fish & chips? It impinges on other people because of the lingering smell.

There are some basic standards of behaviour in public that used to be observed but now anything goes from smelly food, phone on loudspeaker, feet on seats, dogs on seats, bikes on pavements.

But thankfully the majority of people are considerate and we're still mainly a civilised bunch!

The behaviour and lack of consideration for others on public transport is one of the larger barriers to getting more people to travel this way. Yes the majority of people are reasonable, but not all.

Bet you're one of those people who also wants to ban eating in cinemas luckily it will never happen so moan all you want 🤣

Ooh aren't you edgy with your sideways laughing emoji. Not to mention easily amused.

From the above comment I'm assuming you're the popcorn-crunching sweet-rustling drink-slurping loud-talking person in the audience. After all, you've paid for your ticket and that entitles you to do exactly as you please, innit?

It's perfectly normal.. Why else do you think trains have restaurant cars/buffet or trolley service?

You can't have travelled much

Are you from the 1980s?

Can all of the people saying they sell food on trains tell me what rail company sell fried fish and chips on board please.

Blimey, don’t travel in 1st class, they cook and bring smelly food to you on the train 😁

People are travelling. Your don't know how long their journey has been or will be and how they may have had to rush to catch the train and what other access to food they have had that day. I really can't get as wound up about someone having their meal or snack on their train journey whether it's 30 minutes or 5 hours. It's ruder I would say to expect people to live by your non-rules rule!

I admit I’ve never had fish but I’ve had hot bbq pork, fry up breakfast inc bacon, roast chicken….just to name a few. All on LNER. Not sure if they serve fish, I’m not keen on it so wouldn’t have noticed.

They serve fish and chips on some train lines so I'm pretty sure they expect you to eat it.

@snackprovidersupreme whats wrong with sushi on a train? Cold, doesn’t smell, doesn’t splash etc. Pretty inoffensive I’d have thought.

Smelly food (pasties and burgers are the worst) should be banned from public transport.

Common place in any commuter train nowadays to see at least on person with a full burger and chips.
Unsurprisingly, as there are loads of fast food places in and around all the big stations.

I can't say I was thrilled about the sushi that someone had the other week but even that wasn't as bad as some of the non-food smells on trains, so there's that.

I think I'm actually more annoyed by the rubbish that is left behind afterwards - at least take it with you when you get off.

Maybe the trains need to be told that having hot food on them is unacceptable, given that they serve it.

The last time I was on a train I was served a vegetable curry.