Article: The do's and don'ts of train ettiquette

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

The do's and don'ts of train ettiquette

The do's and don'ts of train ettiquette
Amy Remeikis
December 15, 2011 - 3:00AM

"So I don't know if you have heard but Peter has had a stroke. He's OK apparently but it means he won't be able to cook the turkey this year. I know! It was dry last year and he was fine, so imagine if he made it this year!"

"Your room is so messy, creatures probably find it very convenient to hide there. There is probably another insect moving in now."

"I told you I was leaving. No, no, don't give me that. I saw those text messages because you never put any of your stuff away. But I'm not an idiot, I knew there was something going.....wait. I'm going through a tunnel."

The oversharers.

They come in all shapes and sizes, ages and genders but they have one thing in common - an inability to take their mobile phone conversations away from public transport.

Not so long ago, overhearing a loud phone conversation on a bus, train or ferry would be the exception, not the norm, but now the problem has reached a stage where public transport officials have been forced to address it.

Queensland Rail launched an etiquette campaign in September after a litany of "onboard issues" were brought to their attention through social media, customer reference groups and their own call centre.

"The etiquette campaign sparked a lot of interesting discussion on train etiquette faux pas on social media channels, with the positive outcome of encouraging our customers to be aware of their behaviour and how to be considerate towards other on the city network," a QR spokeswoman said.

But etiquette expert Anna Musson says one of our biggest problems was a technology driven self-absorption.

"Because we can be immediately accessible, we think we should be and we want to be," she said.

"So if our phone rings, we answer it. If it makes a sound, we look down at it, even if we are mid-conversation with someone.

"We have removed the barriers of what is appropriate and what is not appropriate for the sake of being in touch.

"And I will probably cop a lot of flak for saying this, but Gen Y seems to be the worst for this. They have grown up with phones, their friends all do it and they seem to think it is perfectly acceptable.

"While Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, they used to read books or papers on the train or bus, there would be 'good mornings' or nods hello.

"Now people get on and shut out the world and become oblivious to everything around them. And it becomes unpleasant for everyone."

Permanent quiet carriages have been introduced on all Queensland Rail city network trains, where loud conversations, using mobile phones and loud music devices are heavily frowned upon.

Ms Musson thinks commuters just need to unplug and take a look at their surroundings.

"The problem we have is we have become increasingly self absorbed, we want to shut out the world and concentrate on ourselves and what we think is important and we forget about what is around us," she said.

"We rush around, we spend our time looking at little devices and we take our calls or write our emails where others can hear or see because we don't see the world around us.

"We are putting ourselves first and it is not very becoming."

Public Transport etiquette tips from Anna Musson.

    Say good morning to people or at the very least, make eye contact, particularly if you are a regular commuter and see the same people often.
    Give up your seat for someone who looks like they need it. Men are just as entitled to sit as women, but a gentleman would give up their seat for a woman who was standing.
    If your phone rings, answer it, but just tell whoever it is, you are on the train and will call them back.
    If you are listening to music, which is not ideal, because you are blocking out the world and are incapable of conversation, then have it turned to a volume level where it is not blasting out of your ears.
    Say thank you to the bus driver and be courteous to everyone around you.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/the-dos-and-donts-of-train-ettiquette-20111214-1oupy.html

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 21st July 2012 page 12

Revenge of the rail passengers

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor submitted to the Queensland Times 21 July 2012

The article published in the QT on Saturday (Revenge of the rail passengers, QT, July 21) is only one viewpoint.  Far from backfiring as suggested in the article it has drawn attention to the pitiful behaviours of many rail passengers in a light hearted way.  It has been a very successful campaign judging by the wide interest in the campaign in social media, topical conversation and the media generally. But importantly it does show just how general social behaviours have deteriorated.  Rather than being critical of Queensland Rail, they deserve much praise for the campaign.  If individuals distort the campaign for their own sense of perverse humour that is not Queensland Rail's problem. It is just a sign of how social attitudes have deteriorated and just further highlights why the train etiquette campaign is actually needed.  A little more balance I think would be appreciated by your readers.

Robert Dow
Goodna Qld  4300

From the Queensland Times 21st July 2012 page 12

Revenge of the rail passengers

[SteelPan]

The overall substantial decline in manners right throughout society, is a sad reflection on people from say under 50yo in today's world.  Does it really need to be said that when on trains, I do not want to hear peoples music or mobile ph conversations?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Oh please. Alot of the meme posters are pretty clever and damn right funny. Even if some are vulgar/use offensive language to get the point across they are still funny mostly because it reflects what we all think, have heard/experienced or noticed while travelling on trains before. We've all been there. Take the "Doug takes his bike on the train specifically during AM peak hour. Doug's a f**kwit" poster. When someone tries to force their way on the train with their bike or you try to get on the train and there is someone with a bike taking up a huge area in the middle of peak hour impeeding access to the door. I bet my bottom dollar everyone has atleast thought "you bloody idiot" at someone with a bike. The same deal with the quiet carriage. We've all at one point in time wanted to escape all the noise and just want to get home quickly be it a bad day at work/headache or just want some quiet only to have some boffin yelling into his phone or some stupid teenage wannabe gangsta plays music on their phone get on the train. It's only the people that never use trains that seem to get in a huff about the ettiquitte mems.

Harden up I say.

[BrizCommuter]

The overall substantial decline in manners right throughout society, is a sad reflection on people from say under 50yo in today's world.  Does it really need to be said that when on trains, I do not want to hear peoples music or mobile ph conversations?

Some of the rudest mannered train passengers are over 50!

No lack of middle aged women who are aisle seat hogs, leave bags on seats, and barge onto trains before passengers have alighted.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor published Queensland Times 25th July 2012 page 9

Campaign a success

[achiruel]

The overall substantial decline in manners right throughout society, is a sad reflection on people from say under 50yo in today's world.  Does it really need to be said that when on trains, I do not want to hear peoples music or mobile ph conversations?

I think that is going a bit far.  I'm in my 30's, my wife is in her late 20's and neither of us disrupt other passengers when using the train.  I avoid mobile phone conversations as much as possible, and if really necessary keep it brief and quiet.  My wife does listen to her iPod, but no-one around her (including me when I'm sitting right next to her) can hear it.

Whereas I often hear older people with their music players cranked right up (due to hearing loss perhaps, but it's still annoying to the rest of us).  They also have a tendency to TALK REALLY LOUD!

[kazzac]

I only listen to my iPod when travelling on PT if there is any annoying pax seated near me talking too loud ,usually  female Gen Y"s are the worst at this,or anyone talking too loudly on their phone.

[ozbob]

First of a series of vids over the next 6 weeks or so ..

QRBM Etiquette Eating on Train

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Train users vent on worst passenger habits

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Queensland Rail encourages train etiquette in wake of strange list of commuter complaints

[brissypete]

I think we are one of the odd ones out when it comes to not allowing food and drink consumption.  In Switzerland for example its quite ok and rubbish bins are provided at seats and near the doors.  This is on "suburban" trains and intercity the latter of which also have a trolley service.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail Dec 15

Our seats are not banana lounges. Nobody wants their clothes soiled because you put your feet on the seats.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 6m

What's the rush? Remember to stand aside to allow people to safely detrain before you attempt to board #respect

[verbatim9]

How many times have I seen people having a meal on trains and sipping RTDs and Beer with their feet digging into seats. Usually one person in every carriage.

I am all for a liberal society and drinking in public spaces but etiquette is the key.

[James]

Drinking on trains probably has to be the worst one. Probably because of the type of people who drink on trains are the kind of people you don't want to be sitting next to. My favourite 'weird things people do on trains' had to be when one person started washing his hair on the train. Not in the bathroom, just out in the seating with everybody else. He squeezed some shampoo in his hair and off he went...

You simply don't have this much fun sitting in a car do you?

[verbatim9]

Drinking on trains probably has to be the worst one. Probably because of the type of people who drink on trains are the kind of people you don't want to be sitting next to. My favourite 'weird things people do on trains' had to be when one person started washing his hair on the train. Not in the bathroom, just out in the seating with everybody else. He squeezed some shampoo in his hair and off he went...

You simply don't have this much fun sitting in a car do you?

That's definitely a bizarre encounter on the train.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 35m

When it's busy, shuffle your feet between the seats & make fellow passengers smile by moving down the aisle.

[SurfRail]

People eat and drink on trains over here all the time with no issue - shock horror, longer journeys even have a catering service!

[verbatim9]

People eat and drink on trains over here all the time with no issue - shock horror, longer journeys even have a catering service!

Yeah I know on American intercity trains as well as European ones. But I think on metropolitan services is a different story. (The Gold Coast trains are a bit grubby and on top the etching into the Windows not a glamorous look).

[STB]

People eat and drink on trains over here all the time with no issue - shock horror, longer journeys even have a catering service!

One thing I would love to see is at least the ability to be able to eat and drink on the trains (except alcohol of course) here, as you can do in many other different places, including Sydney and Melbourne.  But alas, I doubt that will ever happen, I'm surprised they haven't banned retailers from sticking vending machines at the stations here.

[verbatim9]

People eat and drink on trains over here all the time with no issue - shock horror, longer journeys even have a catering service!

One thing I would love to see is at least the ability to be able to eat and drink on the trains (except alcohol of course) here, as you can do in many other different places, including Sydney and Melbourne.  But alas, I doubt that will ever happen, I'm surprised they haven't banned retailers from sticking vending machines at the stations here.

p.s. (I love having a takeaway coffee on the train too) But remember in Sydney/Mel there is a huge problem with rubbish/food scraps being left on trains. A few years back it became dire straights and more people were employed to pick up rubbish in the trains at turn around points. I don't think BT, QR, Sunbus, Surfside, Logan City Bus want to go down that path. e.g There is already alot of containers and bottles lying around on QR corridors that are not being attended too? Keep Qld beautiful is a struggle at the moment.

[Nina M Blackwell]

Today - Cleveland line - major disruption - resort to plan B - #251 from Ormiston to City.  Okay, it's quite a trek to the bus stop from the train station (have asked Translink multiple times to move the stop to the shops at Sturgeon Street for easier access by stranded train users).  Never mind, I made the bus and it was not-too-uncomfortable (albeit an extra 20 minutes in duration total) but the clown directly behind me (who I can only guess must have been hard of hearing) was talking, no not talking, shouting nonstop from about Capalaba to Elizabeth Street to his seat companion.  Mind you, this pair was the ONLY ones talking on the entire bus, except for the two women directly behind them who I guess figured if you can't beat'em join'em. No Seinfeld "half turns", the fingers in ear-plugged ears, leaning forward against the glass to distance myself seemed to faze him.  I have a headache now.  But at least I didn't fall asleep like I do on the train, so maybe the "net" total of my book reading was the same.  Have a good day everyone.

[ozbob]

Haha - yes, THIS!
(Via Reddit) #MetroTrains pic.twitter.com/JtIZOuz1il

— Daniel Bowen (@danielbowen) October 4, 2016