Children on trains, first class

I feel your pain - I was booked into the quiet carriage once by mistake, and I was hoping to finish (oh, all right, write from scratch) a presentation on my laptop on the journey! Fortunately, I managed to get relocated, but I genuinely didn't know that it was the quiet carriage at first, and must have taken at least two mobile calls before someone pointed it out.

The woman who booked the ticket was mortified when I told her - she said she had no idea either, because the train company didn't tell her!

To answer your question, I wouldn't personally be bothered, because I always commute with a pair of heavy-duty noise-cancelling headphones. On the other hand, I think those are banned from quiet carriages too, so it's not much help...

I'm no particular fan of children, but if you've paid for their tickets you've as much right to be in first class with them as anyone else.

I'd probably grumble under my breath if they were noisy, but I'd do that in cattle class as well. and in the supermarket. and in a restaurant. ? [miserable old bat icon]

It wouldn't bother me at all!

I think you are being a bit paranoid. They will be fine, relax ?

Why can't you use your laptop in a quiet carriage?

I'd be absolutely livid, sorry. I realise it's not your fault, but...

I agree.

I know it was a mistake but surely it defeats the object of having a quiet carriage if anyone (children or not) dont keep quiet.

Don't apologise Sophie, I wasn't after fluffy opinions. Its not really my idea of fun either ?

I'm thinking of very loudly explaining to the train staff that Virgin messed up my reservation and if there is any chance of swapping to a non-quiet zone table I would be happy to do so, so that other passengers have a more peaceful journey. At least they will know I haven't done it on purpose then

I don't understand that in quiet coaches MP3 players and laptops seem to be disallowed, but conversations are OK?

Surely MP3 players and laptops, with headphones, are quieter than 2 or more people talking?

Or have I misunderstood the 'rules'?

It's worth a try. I suppose there's also a good chance that people booked into the non-quiet bit won't turn up and there will be vacant seats. I really feel for you, I do, but if I'd paid for a first-class ticket and requested the quiet coach and someone turned up with two screaming brats small children, I'd be fer-yoo-ming.

Fimble what a difficult situation to find yourself in ? You have my sympathy.

If the train companies want to make these carriages for adults only, it is up to them. Until they do, then surely children can travel on them? Does it say anything in the 'rules' about children?

L
xx

Wouldnt bother me at all unless they started screeching, then i d have something to say about it

however, i d far rather be near a c ouple of well bahved children in the quiet coach than some tosser braying into his mobile who gets arsey when i point out its the quiet coach (which has happened to me several times)

I have to say, I was a bit miffed that my (expected) quiet, peaceful first class trip for a weekend away a couple of weeks ago was very definitely non-peaceful due to a mother and small child and possibly mother's sister.

Child was bored and talking very loudly and slamming toys down on table so mother & other lady talked even louder to hear themselves over her.

It totally defeated the object of the first class ticket for me.

i call this the "english disease". you seemingly didnt ask them to quieten down, nor did you ask the train manager to ask them to shut up and nor did you either move, or ask to be moved ( i appreciate it may have been full, but still )

A train manager once explained to me the quiet carriage rules - no mobiles, or headphones, are allowed. But passengers can talk as loud as they wish. This was a couple of years ago when he was trying to persuade me to take my crying baby in there instead of the bit in between carriages (I didn't do that) - the rules seem stupid to me!

Well, Great Western stipulate that conversations should be conducted quietly. so maybe it depends on the train co?

L
xx

Back in September I was booked into first class for a meeting in London (1hr 50min journey for me). Because I booked so far in advance I was booked into first class which was nice as I was pregnant too (still am). On the way up I sat in the quiet coach as there was space to put the buggy without folding it down. Had now problems and Harvey was his usual angelic self.

On the way back I decided to sit in the same area as I also had luggage with me (over night stay). I sat down and this woman looked at me - she looked up at the window (where the Quiet Coach sign was), turned to me again and asked if this was the quiet coach. I said yes, then thinking she was obviously having a dig I asked her if her comment was aimed at me? She said oh it's just this is the quiet coach, first class, you shouldn't bring children in here'. Wanting a fight now I corrected her and said the quiet coach was limited to not using mobile phones or audio equipment and that my child was very well bhaved and if he played up, I would have the courtesy to fellow passengers and take him into the doorwell'. At that point some felmale executive type strolled into said quiet coach on her mobile phone and this woman didn't bat an eyelid.

The journey went on and Harvey was again his usualy happy angelic self. I was waiting for the woman to get off before me so I could have a go at her. She did get off before me but before I could say anything she approached me, apologiesed and said what a well behaved baby he was.

So, I wouldn't be pi$$ed off to find whildren in the quiet coach of first class, but i would be pi$$ed off if the parents let them carry on screaming etc without having due regard for other passengers.

If you are prepared to keep them under control as I'm sure most parents want to do, I think you'll be fine. If people don't like it, tough, they can move elsewhere. First Class is never busy is it!

Hope it goes well!

x

I know, I just didn't want to cause a scene. All I wanted to do was sleep on an early morning train for a weekend away.

I think they got the message after a while as the man directly behind them kept looking over his seat and tutting - child kept running toys along the top of his headrest and catching him.

No train manager in sight unfortunately.

But with children that age, a certain amount of screeching is inevitable, as teh OP says. If they were totally quiet of course it wouldn't bother me, but they're 2 and 3 ?

I think it depends on the child. There is no way on this earth I'd take my 2 year old in the quiet carriage, even if he was fast asleep! He is well behaved in that he wouldn't run up and down or throw toys but he is very chatty and does tend to chat at full volume. My best friends daughter however is a totally different kettle of fish. She is very quiet and would happily sit for an hour looking out of the window or at a book.

I wouldn't object if a child such as that was in the quiet carriage but I'd be very cross if a child such as my son was.

I don't think that's true at all, Sophie. My son's two and has no problem amusing hmself quietly for an hour (looking at a book or colouring in, say) and I know lots of other toddlers for whom that's the case as well.

I really wouldn't worry about it. There are often children in first class- they've every right to be there if they have a ticket. Quiet conversation etc is fine and, in any event, it's the quiet carriage not a funeral service ? If a child did laugh out loud you could just remind them to be quiet- it's not going to ruin everyone's journey. I agree with Nick- I'd far rather sit next to a couple of well-behaved children than a businessman on his phone who'll be arsey when asked to stop.

When I take my son on the Eurostar I usually get a couple of comics and some mini aquadraw pictures- they tend to keep him occupied quite well. A big sheet of stickers and an album to stick them into also works well.

I'd far rather than someone says something directly than just mutters under their breath/ tuts/gives me evil looks. I don't think they will screech. There will be breakfast to eat first, for one thing ? But they may get excited when we go though a tunnel...

The only train i take these days is the west coat main line to london, and the mobile reception is patchy all the way. there is ALWAYS one or more utter fuckbags shouting "WHATS THAT? CAN YOU HEAR ME? EH? CAN YOU HEAR ME" until the call is dropped, and then it goes on 5 minuters later. i always tell them to put a lid on it and some people get really arsey - the best thing is when someone else joins in in support, which is what usually happens. then they realise.

anyway, in this instance, its only an hour, which is neither here nor there.

We have not done a train journey as such in the UK, but my children have been in 1st on Eurostar & flights.

Even before we had kids, we booked it for comfort, not for the adult only factor

I would say 99% of the time my two are well behaved, but like last Thursday in 1st on the flight home, my 16mth played up, he was tired & had to be strapped on me as there was quite a bit of turbalance. So 1st or ecomony, he would have done the same.

It's a train journey in a posher seat, not a Monastery & if they do play up, it's not as though you have stuck pins into them to make them screech etc...

I still have very fond memories of the woman who informed the entire carriage of:

(1) her home address;

(2) when she'd be out;

(3) where the person at the other end could find the key in case of (2).

Sadly, there's no way of knowing whether anyone took advantage!

I travel on the train, at least once a month, on a 4hr journey, edinburgh to london, with my 9 month old.

I have done this since he was 7 weeks old and we always travel 1st class.

To me, if I have paid for both of our tickets, ( i always buy 2 tickets, so i can put him in the car seat on the seat) we have as much right to be there as other paying travellers, regardless of my sons age etc.

If he does get particularly vocal etc, we always go to the vestibule ends until he has finished, mearly out of courtesy to other passengers!

To my mind, people who have a certain expectation of 1st class travel, should check exactly what the train company offers as a 1st class service.

We use 1st class, as the carriages are generally less busy, the seats are a bit bigger, everything is served to you, without having to lug baby up and down train and the option of having something decent to eat in the resturant. nowhere in the 1st class policy does it omit children, therefore i find it odd when people are annoyed if children are using this service too.

Often i find if people are slightly annoyed to have a baby in close proximity, they always move anyway, and that is their choice.

By the way I don't think it's first class that's the issue, it's being in the quiet coach.

Doesn't it depend on the children? If it were my little girl (who's 2.5) I'd have no problem with it but if I were going with MissSun and my nephew then it'd be a different matter, they'd be on a train, excited at the prospect and would be quite noisy. I'd be annoyed that the company had booked me on knowing the childrens' ages and i'd be paranoid about the other passengers.

If I were travelling without children on the quiet coach and they started screeching then I would be annoyed, even as a parent. That's what i'd have booked the quiet coach for, to get away from the screeching lol!

Thanks all. PMSL at Nick - I use the same train - the phone conversations are always like that.

At least with it being 1st class they are likely to be more comfortable and therefore more quiet. I will ask as we board if we can be moved to another table in the non quiet zone. Trouble is with a 3 and 2 year old I really need to be sitting right with them round a table and therefore that limits the no. of seats available.

Nope not inevitable - my daughter doesn't screech (she's just 2) - she laughs and plays and chats away to herself but she is quiet and calm and can sit on a train no problem and entertain herself.

Of course I'd have the courtesy if she did screech to get the hell out of there ?