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I've travelled by train in the UK since the early 80s and it's far worse now. Feet on seats, bags on seats, people talking on phones using speakerphone, watchin

I've travelled by train in the UK since the early 80s and it's far worse now. Feet on seats, bags on seats, people talking on phones using speakerphone, watching videos without headphones, dreadful music leaking out of headphones, eating smelly food, failing to discipline riotous children, overcrowding. The sad truth is that unless you really enjoy environmentalist self-flagellation, car or plane are infinitely more preferable. Changing this would need to start with a cultural change, but the traditional values we'd need to go back to are out of fashion.

arethuza 7y ago
Well, I've also been travelling on trains since the early 1980s and I don't really recognise that at all - are you in the South East? I'd actually say my normal commute into Edinburgh from Fife is actually quite enjoyable - getting a seat isn't a problem in the mornings and maybe once a month I have to stand for 10 minutes on the train coming back, which is hardly an ordeal. Fellow passengers all seem fairly pleasant as well! I would say that 95% of my train travel has been between Edinburgh, Glasgow and up to Inverness and beyond.
- goodcanadian 7y ago
  I am in the southeast, and I identify more with your description than with the grandparent.
  - arethuza 7y ago
    The only thing I miss about trains in the 1980s is that for a while the line between Aberdeen and Inverness ran ancient old 1st class carriages with compartments (think Harry Potter) as standard.
    - growlist 7y ago
      Try Blackfriars to Brighton for an eye opener.
Doctor_Fegg 7y ago
100% disagree with this. Our local line, which in the 80s was a backwater being considered for closure or at the least major service cuts, now has an hourly fast intercity train with a quiet carriage (mostly observed), decent free wifi, and reliable service. Driving and, more significantly, parking anywhere just can't compete. Not everywhere in the UK is lucky enough to have a good train service, but overall the service today is much better than the 80s.
- growlist 7y ago
  Is that representative of most journeys? I suspect not. Apart from that I'd argue that the stubborn popularity of cars tells its own story.

arethuza 7y ago

Well, I've also been travelling on trains since the early 1980s and I don't really recognise that at all - are you in the South East? I'd actually say my normal commute into Edinburgh from Fife is actually quite enjoyable - getting a seat isn't a problem in the mornings and maybe once a month I have to stand for 10 minutes on the train coming back, which is hardly an ordeal. Fellow passengers all seem fairly pleasant as well! I would say that 95% of my train travel has been between Edinburgh, Glasgow and up to Inverness and beyond.

goodcanadian 7y ago
I am in the southeast, and I identify more with your description than with the grandparent.
- arethuza 7y ago
  The only thing I miss about trains in the 1980s is that for a while the line between Aberdeen and Inverness ran ancient old 1st class carriages with compartments (think Harry Potter) as standard.
  - growlist 7y ago
    Try Blackfriars to Brighton for an eye opener.

Doctor_Fegg 7y ago

100% disagree with this. Our local line, which in the 80s was a backwater being considered for closure or at the least major service cuts, now has an hourly fast intercity train with a quiet carriage (mostly observed), decent free wifi, and reliable service. Driving and, more significantly, parking anywhere just can't compete. Not everywhere in the UK is lucky enough to have a good train service, but overall the service today is much better than the 80s.

growlist 7y ago
Is that representative of most journeys? I suspect not. Apart from that I'd argue that the stubborn popularity of cars tells its own story.