To think it’s weird to sit at someone’s table without asking?

[orancing]

I’m sat having a coffee waiting for my train and some woman has just plonked herself on the other seat … and not said anything.

I mean if she’d asked u would have said “of course” … I mean for all she knows I’m with someone.

I would ask before sitting there.

Better hope she doesn't start eating your biscuits.

Ooof bit late for a coffee Op!

The other seat being in the waiting room?

Oh dear Op, you sound odd

Get it all the time!

Were other seats available, is it near the announcement screen.

If you were with someone you would have told her but you were alone and it's not " your" table

Depends on so many things but the main point would be were there other free tables?
If not then where exactly were you, a cafe near a station or a cafe actually in a station.
If there were other tables completely free but they chose to sit at yours then yes that is odd but if not and you were somewhere like a station cafe where people were sitting waiting for trains then not so much so.

Honestly I wouldn’t care. If you were with a friend, you’d say (or I would) immediately. Why is everyone so precious about tables in coffee shops. I’d be looking at my phone and wouldn’t give a toss.

Of course she should have asked. It’s only polite.

this wasn’t a cafe!! This was a train station waiting area!

I wouldn't like it. Invasion of personal space.

She said it was a table

Yes… the waiting area of my local train station has tables

But this isn’t a cafe

… she does in the thread title

At a train station? On the platform? Yes, you’re being unreasonable. It’s hardly a nice cafe where you’re meeting a friend.

Yes I edited

But this is a station waiting area. Not a cafe

Exactly
I wouldn’t even look up if someone took a seat in a station waiting area with tables

A small train station cafe or waiting room, I don’t think that odd, it’s much the same as siting next to somebody on the bench or seats on the platform or in the waiting shelter. Less formal and different to sitting yourself down on somebody’s table elsewhere without asking whilst they’re eating their lunch.

This.

Don't think it's that unusual in a station, especially if busy.
I'd ask, but it'd only be for show - I wouldn't be expecting a no!

I disagree. My experience is that people, including me, always ask and the other person always says it’s ok. Otherwise you’re just blanking the other person, pretending they’re not there and don’t exist.

It is normal manners to say “do you mind if I sit here?”, in the clear expectation the person will say yes, as it would be rude to hog a table for four (for example) to one person.

Were there other free tables @orancing ? It would be weird to sit there at all if there were.

No I wouldn’t expect anyone to ask in that situation. It’s completely different to being in a cafe