I've spent over 2 decades riding trains all over the US. I wish passengers would stop doing these 7 things.
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- I've been riding trains across the US for 26 years, and it's one of my favorite ways to travel.
- After hundreds of trips, I have a running list of some of the worst tendencies passengers have.
- Bringing too much luggage or generally taking up more than your fair share of space is annoying.
Train travel can be an adventure.
Whizzing by different terrain and meeting new people are all part of it. But it can also be chaos, especially if other riders are doing things that irritate you.
After 26 years of riding trains up and down both US coasts and across the Midwest, here are seven things I wish passengers would stop doing.
Talking your seat partner's ear off
As is the case on most public transportation, you run the risk of happening upon talkative seatmates on trains.
I don't usually mind having brief conversations with people near me — it's a shared experience, after all. However, not everyone wants to be social.
Forcing someone into conversation for an entire, multi-hour train ride can be exhausting. Especially since many people take train rides as a more leisurely and relaxing travel option.
If you connect and happen to enjoy the chat, go for it. But consent from both parties is key.
Bringing too much luggage
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Similar to air travel, there's limited space on the floor in front of you and in the overhead bins on a train. Try to stick to your fair share of luggage, or plan in advance to check it when you board.
On Amtrak, at least, most reservations allow you to bring one bag and two carry-on items. Of course, you may be able to bring more if you book a private car or upgrade your ticket.
People are getting on and off at every stop, so even if your train car looks empty when you board, you should still be mindful of how much space you're taking up.
Spreading your things out across a row of seats
Speaking of taking up too much space, spreading all your things across a row (or more) of seats is annoying for fellow passengers.
Although there isn't a ton of extra space if you need to unpack something or resituate your luggage, I wish people were more mindful about taking too many seats, blocking the middle aisle, and knocking into the people around them.
This also goes for lying down across multiple seats. If you really need to stretch out, go to the café car or observation space, where there's usually a little more room to move around.
Leaving trash and spills for others to clean
There is a sense of "I don't have to do that" on trains and planes when it comes to cleaning up after yourself.
It's especially annoying because there are trash receptacles throughout the train, making it easy to organize your space as you go. I usually find them near stairwells, in restrooms, in the dining car, or at the end of some of the passenger cars.
Your trash is your responsibility — the same goes for anything you spill during the trip.
Trapping people on the stairs or between cars
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Try not to stand in the way of people in the space between cars or on the narrow (sometimes winding) stairwells.
As we've established, space is limited, and if you trap someone for too long, they may start to feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
It's sometimes unavoidable to momentarily block people as they're getting on and off the train, but otherwise, be mindful and stay aware of your surroundings.
Watching a video or listening to music without earbuds
If you want to avoid irritating everyone around you, do want you can to reduce your noise pollution.
You might be fascinated by the cooking video you found on YouTube, but the rest of the passengers probably aren't. And no matter how amazing your taste in music is, use headphones while you're on the train.
This also goes for taking phone calls — no one wants to hear your whole conversation on speakerphone.
Taking your shoes off
When you're in a public place that's not a pool or spa, taking your shoes off probably isn't going to warrant a pleasant reaction.
This is especially true when you're trapped in what's essentially a metal tube for hours.
To avoid bothering your fellow train riders, keep your shoes on. I personally wouldn't want my feet touching the floor of a train anyway.