To think some train passengers are complete s**ts?

[DollyDiamond]

I travel with my one year old every Mon-Wed on the train from Richmond to Waterloo (pre-7am to avoid the big crush), but am finding it increasingly unpleasant. Twice this week I have been brought to tears (and I am definitely not the weepy type) by callous passengers who feel we are in their way (despite all attempts to ensure we are not). Part of the problem appears to be that some passengers do not see the spaces with flip up seats as priority for buggies and as a result, either refuse to let me park there or demand that I move the buggy to let them sit down. If I did so, I would block the exits or corridors and thus obstruct all other passengers. I never take up 2 spaces and am always polite in requesting people give up their seat (or even just move up one seat to park nearest the door, where it is widest), but can't believe they don't appreciate that these seats are meant to be used by buggies/wheelchairs etc and should you sit there, you may need to give them up (preferably without me having to ask). The tube has signs above some seats saying they may need to be surrendered to someone who needs them more (eg parent and child/elderly) and I have asked the train company to consider installing these and in the meantime, ask the train announcers to politely remind passengers to give these seats up graciously - but we'll see...?

I just find it so depressing that people are so rude and such bullies. The man today made such a verbal demonstration of how much of an inconvenience we were, that dd was terrified and started to cry -his response - to stand way too close to me in presumably some attempt to intimidate me. I was there first - who did he think he was?? When I talk to DH, he's always outraged that no-one jumps to my defence, but I guess that's London?

Sorry for rambling on, but I'm so fed up I want to go home and not come back (despite havoing worked 15 years to get this job). What would you do?

I have taken to wheeling my mothers wheelchair in to or over the feet of fuckwits like this.

Stand your ground, train space is for pushchairs/ wheelchairs so use it for such.

These spaces are for ..
1} wheelchair
2}pushchair
3}sitting if not needed by one of the above.

Ha! Kimi, I wouldn't have the balls to run over someones feet intentionally - all mouth, me! I can almost understand that someone dismisses a buggy as an irritation, but getting in the way of someone trying to manage a wheel chair makes me very annoyed. Do you sometimes just think people are plain dumb?!

As I mentioned earlier, I contacted the customer services dept of the trainline to suggest they politely remind people what those flippy seats are for... Can't wait to hear what they say. Even if they say tough - they're first come, first served, it'd be worth knowing. I'll share their answer when it arrives...

btw, just checked and the train I sometimes get that goes via Richmond gets in to Richmond at 0648 so that's the one you want to head for!

On my way home today, I checked and we (for some reason) had 3 disabled carriages out of 8.

I think they like putting lots on the way home as you can cram more standing people in those but in those carriages, the sideways seats are often used by people with buggies or big cases.

Re disabled matters on the train, we know a lady who works 2 stops down from us. Our trains are really like tubes as they are the London Loop (all stopping line) and the train is v convenient. She told me that EVERY time she needs to get the train, SWT have told her she has to give them advance notice (like something ridiculous like a week) so that they can be ready for her. I mean, how inconvenient is that? All it takes is the guard putting that slope up for her on the train. I was outraged when I heard this.

DD I have found a whole new world since my mother became chairbound.

I now have wheelchair rage, as well as all other sorts .

Yes some people are fuckwits, I love the ones that try to "rush" the bus, they push in front of us but still have to wait for the ramp to come down, one woman pushed past and was hell bent on getting on before us, she ended up with her foot getting hit by the ramp, yes I did laugh.
Most people with pushchairs are lovely about folding them if they are on the bus first, so we can use the wheelchair space, only had one or two be twats about it.

Did have one driver ask if mum could walk on to the bus as his ramp was not working well, um no sorry she has a leg missing 3 big blokes got off and lifted her on, thankfully they were still on the bus to lift her off at our stop of we may have still been going up and down on that bus right now

FIS - can't wait to get the 6:48, although I think people may wonder why we giggle when I get on!

You have to wonder whether things are deliberately difficult to put you off using them - they can say they offer a service, but in reality, it's so difficult to get, that it may as well not be there. Richmond station is advertised as having a lift, but because it's in the deep recesses of the station, you have to be accompanied. The poor platform person has to go with you and make small talk while the mice on the wheels above move the lift very slowly! One thing that does make me laugh though, is that the emergency button is just at "naughty little boy" height, so everytime the opportunity presents itself, nlbs hit the alarm!! Well... If you put a big red button under a boy's nose, what do they expect to happen!!

Hope you have a better day today