To think other passengers should stop complaining?

[pregnantpause]

I'm on a very long train journey ATM. The train is four mins delayed and the air con is broken- it's absolutely packed and boiling. Sweaty , noisy and smelly.

The train conductor is coming up and down the train handing out bottles of free water, which I think is wonderful and has brightened this journey no end,but there's so many people around me bitching and moaning ' if they think a bottle if water will stop my complaint they've got another thing coming' etc etc-

Aibu to think that actually it's not the trains fault- sometimes things break, sometimes there's delays, there's loads of holiday makers and they're doing they're best by us?

Public transport is not fun- but shut up complaining! I've three hours left of this

[YouTheCat]

Would they have been happier if they'd just cancelled the train?

Some people are just huge whinge bags.

[Delphiniumsblue]

It does, however, occur with regularity- unfortunately. Tempers are bound to be frayed.

[Lottapianos]

You're right OP - some people want the moon on a stick. Sometimes things go wrong - its rubbish and very frustrating but it sounds like they're doing their best in this case. Sending you virtual cold flannels and icy drinks

[DoJo]

I don't think complaining is inappropriate in this situation, but not to OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SAME POSITION! Writing a letter, asking for refunds/compensation are all possibly worth doing, but moaning on when everybody on the train is in the same boat seems pointless and annoying!

[googoodolly]

Sorry, but I would complain too. The rail services in this country are appalling for the prices you pay. I was on a 2 hour journey a few weeks ago, and the air con was broken and it was nearly 30 degrees outside, and probably hotter in the train as the windows didn't open.

A return ticket cost me over £40. For the money we spend on train fares, we should be getting decent trains with appropriate heating/air conditioning facilities and windows that actually work properly!

[JeanSeberg]

I regularly pay upwards of £200 pay to go to London for the day from Manchester.

A journey of longer length in Germany last week was €60.

They are absolutely right not to be fobbed of with a free bottle of water.

Boils my piss, the trains in this country.

[RedToothBrush]

Why is the train so packed?

Why haven't the company laid on additional services?

It sounds like they are charging a lot for a service that is overcrowded and the train isn't even working properly.

Sounds like fair reason for complaint tbh.

[ZenGardener]

One of the first things that shocked me about moving to Japan was that the trains are almost always on time. Delays are very rare and in fact if the bullet train is delayed it makes the news.

I just think that if the Japanese can do it why can't the British?

[pregnantpause]

Obviously I am easily pleased

I don't travel on trains often but on the way I was staggered at how good the journey was- air con, spacious seating, on time and a tea / coffee trolley. Admittedly this journey is not nice, the seats are scratchy and the heat is painful, and the teens skinning up opposite aren't a pretty sight - but a bottle of water and apology more than placated me

[googoodolly]

And that's why they get away with running shit services, 'cause nobody likes hearing complaints and people are happy to receive shit with a bottle of water as an apology!

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

I agree hearing people moan is annoying, but when you pay gold plated macadamia nuts and still get a service a chimpanzee would be ashamed of it grates.

Trains are insanely expensive. DD wants to go to London the train is ) 35-£80 and fares are unbelievably complicated.

National express £8-15 and their air con probably works!

[CoffeeTea103]

Well good for you op that you don't complain
Stuck in those conditions I assume people are frustrated and venting.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

More people should complain!

[Lauren83]

Yanbu this kind of stuff is one of my pet peeves too

[Stinkle]

I'd complain if I was stuck on a train for hours with no air conditioning as well I think.

However, people do seem to complain about everything and anything.

There was a serious accident near my the other day. The main road was shut for 4 hours, surrounding roads were gridlocked.

The police were doing their best, but our local road network is pretty shit with the stupidest one way system known to man, and as soon as you clear one jam, another one appears

The police were going up and down the queues handing out free bottles of water donated by a local supermarket to try and make it all a bit more bearable

Honestly, the moaning was ridiculous, "the police are shit" "I don't like water" "the police can fuck off with their free water" etc, etc, etc

It's not the police's fault, blame the speeding driver who caused the accident in the first place

[JustAShopGirl]

Last National Express coach I went on had broken air con too. Driver said he'd leave 10min later so we could GO AND BUY ourselves some water from the shopround the corner.

[DownByTheRiverside]

'I don't travel on trains often '

Ah, that might make a difference.
Because when your train is knackered for the third time in a week and you are either heading to or going from work, you can get a bit pissed off that the thousands a year you pay doesn't automatically get you a working train or even a seat. Then when it happens when you are on a jolly, you still feel as annoyed. Especially if you are hot and bothered and there are children involved, either because they are your responsibility or because they are annoying you in the carriage.
No point in moaning at the time, but OH has written so many eloquent letters of complaint that his rebates and vouchers form a tidy stack in his IN tray.

[Andro]

Moaning in situ just makes a miserable journey even worse (for all), complaining formally on the other hand is certainly appropriate - a packed train and no AC in this heat is a recipe for trouble (dehydration, heat exhaustion/feinting/tempers going etc).

[stikmatix]

Are you on the 12:00 East Coast train out of Kings Cross by any chance. DH is on with 2 of our kids, taking them to his parents in Scotland. Just texted DD1 who said it was busy, hot and a few mins delayed!

[stikmatix]

And no, they were not complaining to anyone or out loud, just getting on with it and looking forward to getting off at destination!

[DownByTheRiverside]

We used to stop off in York for a breather, on our way to Edinburgh.

[pregnantpause]

Hmmm- An hour and twenty minutes later my two dc are losing it a bit. And this thread has made me less accepting ( though I think posters are right about time and places to complain)

[Andrewofgg]

RedToothBrush When lines are running at safe capacity (and many are) running extra services is not an option .

[RedToothBrush]

Then they should just limit the number of tickets instead of milking every penny, and STILL not providing air con

[whois]

One of the first things that shocked me about moving to Japan was that the trains are almost always on time. Delays are very rare and in fact if the bullet train is delayed it makes the news

Watch the Storyville documentary on the Japanese train disaster and you will find out why they are on time, and you might regret wishing the uk trains were run like that.