AIBU to want quiet in a quiet carriage on the train?

No, you're not being unreasonable! Horrible noisy people! Grrr.

No you're not unreasonable...twice this year I've booked a quiet carriage to go to London (one and a half hours journey for me) and been annoyed by mobile phone users. Why don't they switch them to silent and why do they have to shout! Don't get me started on MP3 players...I'm sure the music they're listening to is delightful but all I can hear is a loud thudding - very annoying!

The whole point of the quiet carriage is that no one should be using mobile phones (or MP3 players that can be heard by other passengers). Unfortunately, we seem to live in a society where "I" am always the exception. Whether it's using the phone in a quiet carriage, cycling the wrong way up a one-way street, driving through the just-turned red light at a controlled crossing, breaking the speed limit, jumping the queue in a shop, walking down the "up" stairs at the station, etc. etc., there is invariably someone who expects that he/she should be able to do it as the rules just apply to everyone else. It is always difficult to know whether to say something as even people you would not expect to be aggressive can turn quite nasty even if you are reasonable and polite.

A female friend of mine has a most effective way of dealing with tiresomely loud male mobile users, whether on the phone to their partners or boss. She leans over towards the phone and says in her wonderfully gravelly and seductive voice, "Oh darling, do hurry up and come back to bed". I have seen entire bus loads of passengers convulse and then applaud.

Definitely NOT being unreasonable; If I choose a quiet carriage, it's because I want quiet, so I have no problem with pointing out signs to people and suggesting they take their phones elsewhere!!

I didn't know about 'quiet carriages'.

Maybe someone should invent a sound monitor for quiet carriages that would trigger a 'shhhhhhhh' when the train is moving and the sound reaches the set level.

The last time I was in the quiet carriage, I got my mobile out to put all the settings on 'no sound' including the keystrokes and the ticket inspector spotted me and ticked me off, 'can't use your mobile in here', I splutterd like a kid and said sorry and put it away (I only wanted to silently recieve texts). Another time, a young dolly bird began making a loud call (in the quiet coach), and I thought sod it, I am saying something - and I just said (nicely) 'you can't use your mobile in here', she looked very put out but did move into vestibule by the toilet

I like the 'oh darling.... wish I had the nerve to do that.

I frequently travel by train on business, and if I find that I am in the quiet carriage, I put my phone on to silent, with vibrate, so if I get a call I can go into the section between carriages to answer it. (I do need to, because it may be our P.A. calling to advise of a change of meeting time etc)

What I do find frustrating when booking tickets on-line, is that you are given options for "quiet carriage" , or "no preference" In other words you cannot actively choose not to be in the quiet carriage! Quite often my colleague and I will need to take calls, discuss or rehearse the presentation etc, and find very awkward to do so if w have been booked into the quiet carriage. (Although it is not always as quiet as it's suposed to be, too have suffered hearing either the bass lie ot the tinny top noise of what people are listening to through their earpieces. I have even been tempted to tap them on the shoulder and say "I don't think this is their best track, do you?"

When we have enough notice for a meeting, we can sometimes find bargains on first class tickets! Bliss! Plus depending on which provider you are travelling with, can actually mean saving, as a lot of the refreshments are free, plus you can use the first class lounge at the station (At Paddington this means really nice free sandwiches, coffee, cake tea, coffee, yummy nuts, fruit, bottled water etc)

Oh Dear, I have booked a quiet carriage for the end of the month when I go on holiday. My illusions have been shattered!

I was on a train to London last year - an hour and 40 minute trip. Sitting in a so-called quiet carriage we were all subjected to a young woman talking loudly on her phone. During her many calls she rang a company to book theatre tickets and gave her full credit card number, sort code and security digits. At a stop a middle-aged gentleman got up to go - before he left he handed the young lady a slip of paper. She was amazed to see that he had copied out all the details she'd given over her phone and said so . His response was that not only did he have the details but the rest of the carriage did too - and we could have all purchased items on her card before she realised what was happening.
A lovely moment although I love absentgrana's friend with the sexy voice.
Do people think that they are in little force fields or invisible boxes when they use their phones. I've listened to very personal calls whilst on a train or bus. Including the one above I've heard medical results, arguements with the D.S.S., a chat with a Probation Officer, a huge lie when the caller said they were in bed with the flu'. I love my phone but never use it just to chat unless I'm abroad. It's used for convenience like telling someone I'm going to be late for example.

Don't worry NewGranLin the system CAN work very well. I always book a quiet carriage on journeys from London to Cornwall and only once has it not worked as it should. I think that generally a word with the culprit should be effective, the one journey that I had when it was not quiet was the first week of the school holidays when the whole train was packed and I think that the "quiet carriage" took the overflow from the rest of the train

On a similar subject does anyone else get annoyed at all the noise that goes on in libraries now? Our local library must be one of the noisiest in the country - including one librarian who is continually talking on his phone then goes off and shouts up the stairs to colleagues. I just want to say for goodness sake SHUT UP.

For three hours on the train from Euston to Glasgow [in the quiet coach] we were "entertained" by the constant use of the silliest/noisiest of ring tones followed by the silliest/noisiest/lack-lustre of conversations twixt a party of three individuals who thought we all needed to be involved in their little lives.

Dorset I was on a train and tried to put more credit on my phone. For some reason I was put through to an operator and gave my credit card number etc. A man behind me pointed out that he had heard me and so could others on the train. Thankfully nobody used my credit card but it taught me a lesson.