Aussie sparks fury over unspoken train rules after commuter’s ‘insane’ and ‘rude’ act: ‘Does my head in’
A teacher has sparked a heated debate about unspoken train etiquette after commuters pushed in front of her while she was waiting at the front of the queue.
The Sydney woman said she normally drives but started commuting to the city three days a week via public transport for a course she’s doing.
She kept noticing passengers cutting in front of her, even when she was clearly first in line to board the train.
‘Is it normal to push in front of others who have been waiting longer to board the train and the elevator?’ she said in a Reddit thread.
‘I’m standing back to give people space to get off and every time someone has come along and stood in front of me.
‘Not sure if I’m standing back too far – I don’t think I am – or if I’m just too polite.’
Her post struck a chord with dozens of Aussies, with one explaining: ‘Take all those things that you have been taught throughout life about manners and courtesy, then flush them down the toilet as you enter the train station.
‘People are rude. They push in, they put their bags on seats, they put their feet up on seats, they play their music loud, they engage in loud telephone conversations. It isn’t everyone and it isn’t all the time, but f*** me there are some rude c***s on the train.’
A teacher has sparked a heated debate about unspoken train etiquette after commuters pushed in front of her while she was waiting at the front of the queue
‘No queue for train doors, but it is custom (and common sense) to let people out first. If you are exiting and people are blocking you to get in, you can yell at them,’ another suggested.
While one agreed, saying: ‘There’s no such thing as a queue to enter the train. The thing arrives and you gather around a door and get in. You don’t push in front of people, but you don’t do mental calculations of how long people have been waiting either.
Another added: ‘You don’t queue for the train. You just wait for people to get off, and get your own seat.’
Elsewhere, one regular commuter shared advice on how to board the train without being pushed aside.
‘Pro tip: don’t stand directly back from the doors while people are exiting, but to the side. Hug the side of the train, just wait until the train has stopped moving before you step over the yellow line,’ they shared.
‘That way you’re not in the way of those exiting, you’re not walking across the traffic heading to the stairs from the other doors as you walk forward to enter, and, crucially, it’s been shown this is the optimal place to board from since you only have people on one side to contend with.’
Many took particular issue with those who don’t wait for commuters to exit the train before boarding, while others pointed out etiquette no longer exists in Sydney.
‘Man it’s so frustrating when people on the platform immediately board the train and run into passengers trying to get off. Like WTF just wait, the trains are not speeding off,’ one ranted.
‘I have a deep and irrational hatred of it. I was that passenger a couple days ago – this woman just stood in front of me, staring idiotically. Just insane behaviour – am I supposed to walk through her? Pick her up and place her off to the side? Give her a stiff arm and charge off down the platform?’ another said furiously.
Many took particular issue with those who don’t wait for commuters to exit the train before boarding, while others pointed out etiquette no longer exists in Sydney
‘I noticed a change in the last five years. Etiquette is out the window: Stay left when walking down/up stairs or escalators, let people out first, orderly line, take your bag off a three-seater on a full train so I can sit down or don’t vape on the train,’ another shared.
‘Bag on seat should be penalised and fined like feet on seats. There’s cameras, make use of them,’ one suggested.
‘It’s Sydney, there’s no manners and everyone is only in it for themselves. I’ve almost stacked it a few times when getting off the train with all the people in the way trying to get in,’ another added.
Meanwhile, others pointed out there’s a similar problem with Metro stations.
‘I have had the need to catch the Metro into town on maybe three occasions in the last four months. It’s an absolute s**t fight. Kill or be killed. And once you get on the train, there are these f***wits that sit across two seats at a time. Whilst other passengers are standing. Does my head in,’ one angry commuter said.
‘At some Metro stations there is an orderly queue but it really depends on the calibre of people. Once at Chatswood there was an orderly queue and when the train arrived and doors opened, two people just went straight down the middle and jammed on before anyone else,’ another shared.
‘Metro stations seem to have a queuing system in place, but they have helpful markers on each side of the doors. Can’t see it happening on main trains,’ one added.
Join the discussion
Has Sydney train etiquette really disappeared, or are commuters just becoming more selfish?
And it’s not just ‘rude’ passengers riling people up.
‘I had a lady paint her nails on the train… Those fumes in an enclosed space made for a fun journey,’ one said sarcastically.
‘Even better when I went to Strathfield and saw people clipping their fingernails on the train,’ another shared.
‘I always thought this was a rumour/urban legend on the London tube until I witnessed it. Totally surreal. Coming back from the Blue Mountains, I experienced someone filing their nails, dust and debris flying everywhere. Lucky I was further down the carriage. People do be giving themselves a manicure while commuting,’ one revealed.
