Why do solo train users take a table for 4?

[Badbadbunny]

Why do solo train users take a table for 4 and then huff and puff when a couple or family join them? Just on a train with lots of empty twosome seats but only one table for 4 free and a single woman takes it, and made a big fuss about moving her bags off the seat and clearing the rest of the table after she put loads of stuff on it when a family of 4 came on with one of them having to sit elsewhere.

I dont travel by train any more. When I did I always preferred the two seat configuration as i was then less likely to be joined by anyone. I like th feeling of enclosed privacy. It reminds me of the window seat on a plane. Having said that I never used a laptop on a train but always used headphones. and the tinkly sound deterred others from sitting by me unless they had to. It also protected me from having to get into conversation. I am an unsociable bugger when I travel solo.

They are not taking a table for 4. It is a train, not restaurant...

Other people can seat at that table too.

People usually do that if they have a laptop and need a bit more space.

The only thing that would be wrong is the person complaining about other people using the remaining 3 seats.

I agree. Same as on a plane, if you want to sit together in certain seats you need to book.

I wouldn't, I like to try and be on my own. I don't know why I'd want to be facing a stranger / sat next to one for the whole journey. Plus I think it's like going and sitting at a table for four in a café if you're on your own.

I had a pre booked seat & it put me the exact opposite to what I wanted on a table seat, I had asked for a close to toilet, forward facing elderly person seat , anyway, the journey to Bath was very entertaining, a young woman, already tipsy sat opposite me & offered me one of her cans of Gin & Tonic, her conversation started with where was I going what did I do for work have you been to Bristol, I explained that I had lived there for 20 years, do you know St George area, I know it very well , She then started to tell me she was on her first visit to appear on one of the Adult sex TV stations that are filmed there she then wanted to know where she could pull tonight after her sessions, I departed the train at that point.

Really can’t understand? Loads of people have explained their preference for a table seat. What you do is up to you, but not being able to understand a different point of view is immensely limiting.

I always go for a table seat, if you want a table four book it in advance. Agree with you though about people huffing to move bags. If someone has paid for their ticket they can sit where they want.

I take a table seat when I need to work on a laptop. Any other time I avoid them like the plague. As an often-lone female traveller I've had trouble from men in these seat positions on more than on occasion before.

Tutting and humming and hawing at other passengers is also a waste of time and breath. If their a breach is serious enough that it necessitates speaking to them, I'll do that: like one time on the York-Leeds route following the races. A male member of a raucous group kept standing on my foot to try to make me move from my table seat so that he and his mates could have it to themselves, so I asked him very bluntly to stop doing it. I then sat and held my ground, because I'm a stubborn boot who doesn't take kindly to being harassed merely for taking up space. They were also making a hell of a racket, probably so fellow passengers would find it so uncomfortable they'd move. But I find noise-cancelling headphones tune out a multitude of problems and these days never travel without them.

I despise people who think their bag necessitates a paid-for seat space, so 100% not guilty on that score.

Maybe you could learn to read, that was basically what I said. I asked why the family needed a table instead of using 2 of the 2 seaters.

Perfectly reasonable for solo travelers to sit wherever they want.

Not reasonable for anyone to huff about being sat next to.

If there were tables for one (in standard class) I would certainly take one.

I prefer a table seat if I'm using my laptop, the flip down tables don't work for a laptop and coffee at the same time. I can fit in a quarter of the table no problem. You're welcome to sit next to me.

I always opt for an aisle seat on a table of 4. Happy for anyone to join me. I suffered a nasty back injury a few months ago I need the table to lean on to help me stand.

Its not a table for four

It is four seats around a table

Free for anyone to use.

Hth

Because we can. I like having space to spread out and use a table, not for work, just because I like the space. If a family four want to sit together they need to book those seats in advance and if the train operator doesn’t allow for that they need to be organised and get to the station early to grab those seats.

Because they like a table and there are no tables for 1.

I think we all hope to get space to ourselves but can assure you, would not be overwhelmed with 3 people sitting next to me - would probably join in!

She does not have a right to huff and puff when asked to move her stuff off the seats, If she wants four seats to herself then she should pay for all four of them, If she has bags and belongings she needs to utilise the overhead racks. That is exactly what they are there for. Nobody seems to use them though. Is entitled to use that seat if she wants a table but she's not entitled to the whole table space AND the other three seats

Because I’ve paid for my seat and will sit wherever I want.

You are not entitled to the three other seats next to you, or all the table space , " because I can " you say.. The family of four "can" also sit in the seats right next to you too and hem you in if they want to because they are entitled to those seats and 3/4 of the table space. If you want four seats to yourself then you should pay for all four of them. Your belongings Don't belong on a seat or the table. They belong in the overhead racks. That's what they are there for 🙄

OP I imagine your complaint is not the single person sitting in the table but the huffing and puffing at moving their stuff, yes? In which case, agreed, no grown up should huff and puff or eye roll. It's childish and I can't take anyone who behaves like that seriously.

Purely depends in how crowded or not the train is. In a quiet half empty train i would take up a table for 4,especially if i was eating and drinking, reading a newspaper etc. But plainly not if the train was getting full. Common sense surely. And i wouldn't complain if others actually needed the seats. It shouldn't be complicated or difficult.

I travel alone a lot and LOVE a table for the same reason YOU do - somewhere to lean, put stuff on, more space.
However I don’t care who takes the other 3 spots - they’re more than welcome to them!

But if 3 single travellers come to sit on that tabke with you then I assume you would still need to gather up some of your belongings surely? Because they're each entitled to some of that table space.

Of course. I never said I was entitled to all that space!

Same.

Plus, often I’m on the train for over an hour
and want to be comfortable at the end of my day after usually walking 15,000 miles with my backpack and have a snack while
using my tablet.

I don’t mind who sits next to me unless it’s the type of people who ignore the quiet signs and think being quiet is a hardship. Often, I have people getting off before me so I still end up with the table to myself for a bit. I often take the train during quieter periods.