Is there much evidence that designating a Quiet Zone on UK main line trains
actually succeeds in providing a significantly quieter environment for those
who prefer it?  To an occasional traveller, there still appears to be no
shortage of mobile phone users, audio listeners, etc., who appear not to
comprehend the meaning of the stickers on the windows.  What do the train
crews feel about them - do train managers receive many complaints in this
respect?  If so, how would they usually try to handle the situation?

Are there in fact any sanctions which can be taken against noisy passengers,
assuming that free places are available elsewhere on the train, and a polite
reminder produces no positive results?

AJ

A. Jones wrote:

> Is there much evidence that designating a Quiet Zone on UK main line trains
> actually succeeds in providing a significantly quieter environment for those
> who prefer it?  To an occasional traveller, there still appears to be no
> shortage of mobile phone users, audio listeners, etc., who appear not to
> comprehend the meaning of the stickers on the windows.  What do the train
> crews feel about them - do train managers receive many complaints in this
> respect?  If so, how would they usually try to handle the situation?
>
> Are there in fact any sanctions which can be taken against noisy passengers,
> assuming that free places are available elsewhere on the train, and a polite
> reminder produces no positive results?
>

I think someone said in this newsgroup a while back there's no
rule/bylaw to stop people using mobiles in a quiet coach but sanctions
can be taken if they are causing a disturbance/nuisance.

I personally think that the zones should be removed because so many
people disregard them and not much seems to be done to enforce them.

peter

On FGW in the first class quiet zone, if someone is using a mobile or a
too loud iPOD a gentle remark seems to work fine.

"naked_draughtsman"  wrote in message 
news:1127336371.672224.40010@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>
> A. Jones wrote:
>> Is there much evidence that designating a Quiet Zone on UK main line 
>> trains
>> actually succeeds in providing a significantly quieter environment for 
>> those
>> who prefer it?  To an occasional traveller, there still appears to be no
>> shortage of mobile phone users, audio listeners, etc., who appear not to
>> comprehend the meaning of the stickers on the windows.  What do the train
>> crews feel about them - do train managers receive many complaints in this
>> respect?  If so, how would they usually try to handle the situation?
>>
>> Are there in fact any sanctions which can be taken against noisy 
>> passengers,
>> assuming that free places are available elsewhere on the train, and a 
>> polite
>> reminder produces no positive results?
>>
> I think someone said in this newsgroup a while back there's no
> rule/bylaw to stop people using mobiles in a quiet coach but sanctions
> can be taken if they are causing a disturbance/nuisance.
>
> I personally think that the zones should be removed because so many
> people disregard them and not much seems to be done to enforce them.


Recent travels on an All-Line Rover revealed that absolutely bugger all is 
done to enforce quiet coaches, particularly on Virgin XC and GNER, where 
people don't even know they're in a quiet coach and act like obnoxious 
arses.

-- 
*** http://www.railwayscene.co.uk/ ***
Rich Mackin (rich-at-richmackin-co-uk)
MSN: richmackin-at-hotmail-dot-com

<Snip>:

> Recent travels on an All-Line Rover revealed that absolutely bugger all is 
> done to enforce quiet coaches, particularly on Virgin XC and GNER, where 
> people don't even know they're in a quiet coach and act like obnoxious 
> arses.


Or, when you book your ticket with GNER etc. you land up with a 
reservation on a full train in the 'quite coach' I don't ask for a 
reservation there, I just get one there. So I can't use my phone, my 
laptop or Ipod because GNER was 'running out of seats' So I either stand 
part of a 5hr+ trip or play musical chairs, or keep running out to 
take/make calls etc..

I'm thinking that yes - they should be removed, or down sized. There is 
not a lot of point to them, and as others have said not many people take 
that much notice of them.

If they could give us a child free coach then that *would* be fantastic. 
There's nothing worse than a 5+ Hr trip stuck on one train with a car 
full of screaming kids running around, throwing stuff etc..

I understand that everyone has to travel, but do other really want to 
have to put up with 'your' kids running up and down the carriage and 
shouting for the whole 5 hours ?

Off topic, but how is the 'no smoking' on GNER going ? I've a trip to 
Aberdeen soon, my only smoke breaks will be York and EDB.


Q

naked_draughtsman wrote:


> I think someone said in this newsgroup a while back there's no
> rule/bylaw to stop people using mobiles in a quiet coach but sanctions
> can be taken if they are causing a disturbance/nuisance.
> 
> I personally think that the zones should be removed because so many
> people disregard them and not much seems to be done to enforce them.


I'd rather see quiet required generally with a designated "noisy coach" on
long trains.

Q wrote:


> how is the 'no smoking' on GNER going ? 


9.3 on the relevant scale.


> I've a trip to Aberdeen soon, my only smoke breaks will be York and EDB.


So that's only twice to resist temptation. You'll do that easily.

-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9683807.html
(155 318 at Bath Spa, Sep 1989)

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:23:20 +0100, Q <..@..> wrote:


>Or, when you book your ticket with GNER etc. you land up with a 
>reservation on a full train in the 'quite coach' I don't ask for a 
>reservation there, I just get one there. So I can't use my phone, my 
>laptop or Ipod because GNER was 'running out of seats' So I either stand 
>part of a 5hr+ trip or play musical chairs, or keep running out to 
>take/make calls etc..


You can use a laptop or iPod (or any other personal audio device)
without making excessive noise.  Both are provided with useful volume
controls - as indeed is a mobile phone, which can be used to send text
messages provided the ringer and the irritating key beep are disabled.

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

>Q wrote:
>
>> how is the 'no smoking' on GNER going ?
>
> 9.3 on the relevant scale.
>
>> I've a trip to Aberdeen soon, my only smoke breaks will be York and EDB.
>
> So that's only twice to resist temptation. You'll do that easily.


Are there any smoking cars left in the UK now that GNER has banned it????

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:40:41 UTC, "A. Jones"  wrote:

: Is there much evidence that designating a Quiet Zone on UK main line trains
: actually succeeds in providing a significantly quieter environment for those
: who prefer it?

In my experience it works pretty well on Virgin Trains. Sure, there 
isn't an air of cathedral-like hush, but in general people tend to 
respect the rules. 

Ian
--

"Thomas"  wrote in message news:3pg860Fa9fl6U1@individual.net...

> >Q wrote:
>>
>>> how is the 'no smoking' on GNER going ?
>>
>> 9.3 on the relevant scale.
>>
>>> I've a trip to Aberdeen soon, my only smoke breaks will be York and EDB.
>>
>> So that's only twice to resist temptation. You'll do that easily.
>
> Are there any smoking cars left in the UK now that GNER has banned it????


Only the lounge cars on Scotrail's Caledonian Sleepers, but they go 
no-smoking on 5 October.

-- 
*** http://www.railwayscene.co.uk/ ***
Rich Mackin (rich-at-richmackin-co-uk)
MSN: richmackin-at-hotmail-dot-com

Snipped>>.

>
> Or, when you book your ticket with GNER etc. you land up with a
> reservation on a full train in the 'quite coach' I don't ask for a
> reservation there, I just get one there. So I can't use my phone, my
> laptop or Ipod because GNER was 'running out of seats' So I either stand
> part of a 5hr+ trip or play musical chairs, or keep running out to
> take/make calls etc..
>
>


I've had the same problem with FGW when booking via the "call centre".
Maybe I was unlucky, but the staff didn't seem to understand my request
not to have a seat in the quiet zone. My phone did ring briefly whilst
on the train and I was told off by a fellow passenger. I complied with
the not-too-polite request, only to hear them fire up their laptop and
hear the Windows tune ring out....

I did smirk. 

Nick.

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 17:38:26 GMT, "Rich Mackin" 


>Only the lounge cars on Scotrail's Caledonian Sleepers, but they go 
>no-smoking on 5 October.


Now can we re-use the "smoking" flag on NRS to signify the quiet zone?

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Chris Tolley"  wrote in message
news:5gmwvcac6s69.1hnxa5f2vwve6$.dlg@40tude.net...

> Q wrote:
>
> > how is the 'no smoking' on GNER going ?
>
> 9.3 on the relevant scale.
>
> > I've a trip to Aberdeen soon, my only smoke breaks will be York and EDB.
>
> So that's only twice to resist temptation. You'll do that easily.


Lol. Well, that depends if I have to put up with screaming kids, and late
running...

We shall see.

"Neil Williams"  wrote in message
news:4332e88a.1107822@news.tesco.net...

> On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:23:20 +0100, Q <..@..> wrote:
>
> >Or, when you book your ticket with GNER etc. you land up with a
> >reservation on a full train in the 'quite coach' I don't ask for a
> >reservation there, I just get one there. So I can't use my phone, my
> >laptop or Ipod because GNER was 'running out of seats' So I either stand
> >part of a 5hr+ trip or play musical chairs, or keep running out to
> >take/make calls etc..
>
> You can use a laptop or iPod (or any other personal audio device)
> without making excessive noise.  Both are provided with useful volume
> controls - as indeed is a mobile phone, which can be used to send text
> messages provided the ringer and the irritating key beep are disabled.
>
> Neil


<snip>

I'm not one for a ringing phone, so that's not a problem, nor do I play with
ring tones, and MP3's on speaker. - I do however have to make and receive a
lot of voice call's on a typical trip like that. Its quite hard to work,
refer to documents/laptop whilst being on the phone in the 'quite coach'

On Thursday 22 September 2005 18:24, Neil Williams wrote:


> On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:23:20 +0100, Q <..@..> wrote:
> 
>>Or, when you book your ticket with GNER etc. you land up with a
>>reservation on a full train in the 'quite coach' I don't ask for a
>>reservation there, I just get one there. So I can't use my phone, my
>>laptop or Ipod because GNER was 'running out of seats' So I either
>>stand part of a 5hr+ trip or play musical chairs, or keep running out
>>to take/make calls etc..
> 
> You can use a laptop or iPod (or any other personal audio device)
> without making excessive noise.  Both are provided with useful volume
> controls - as indeed is a mobile phone, which can be used to send text
> messages provided the ringer and the irritating key beep are disabled.


Absolutely!

"Q" <..@..> wrote in message news:dgurbv$439$1@news.e7even.com...


> I'm not one for a ringing phone, so that's not a problem, nor do I play
with
> ring tones, and MP3's on speaker. - I do however have to make and receive
a
> lot of voice call's on a typical trip like that. Its quite hard to work,
> refer to documents/laptop whilst being on the phone in the 'quite coach'



So what about the other passengers who also want to work, and who therefore
seek quietness in order to allow concentration?   Do their needs count for
nothing?

A single individual working quietly on his own disturbs nobody.  A noisy
individual constantly talking into a mobile phone can disturb an entire
compartment!

AJ

"Duncan"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.1d9d0caba8038651989682@news.individual.net...

> In article <cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-f2wgW0CcTSgs@localhost>,
> ian.groups@btinternet.com says...
>> On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:40:41 UTC, "A. Jones"  wrote:
>>
>> : Is there much evidence that designating a Quiet Zone on UK main line 
>> trains
>> : actually succeeds in providing a significantly quieter environment for 
>> those
>> : who prefer it?
>>
>> In my experience it works pretty well on Virgin Trains. Sure, there
>> isn't an air of cathedral-like hush, but in general people tend to
>> respect the rules.
>
> Likewise on FGW services they are well repected on the whole.


During the week, maybe. As I've said before, weekends are a different 
matter - along with the related problems of wailing brats and train managers 
who do stuff all to enforce it.

"Ian Johnston"  wrote in message 
news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-eg2UHko0OMmD@localhost...

> On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 18:53:20 UTC, "Not Here"
>  wrote:
>
> : No way. Tapping of laptop keys can get very annoying in quite a short 
> time.
> : Quiet coaches should be just that, no Electronic gadgets fullstop.
>
> How about the irritating thud of cards on the table?


Yep, happens many times a second, as often as someone typing, doesnt it?


>Or the infuriating buzz of quiet conversations?

Not nearly as annoying as the hiss of earphones


>You are quite right -
> absolute, total silence should be enforce by warders with big (padded)
> whips.
>
> Ian


Quite the drama queen, are you not.