On 8 Dec 2016 at 10:32pm No room at the Inn wrote:
Some of these stories of people reluctant to move bags off seats when trains are full is absolutely shameful. ' It's all about me syndrome'
On 9 Dec 2016 at 6:46am Kazak96 wrote:
Although the concept of having a first class compartment is good I think it's unmanageable in this day and age. No one takes any notice of the signs and it's become a joke. I feel sorry for the first class ticket holders who have gone to the expense and can't find any seats.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 12:19pm CtrlAltDel wrote:
Kazak, that's certainly the case with Southern. But then their first class compartment comprises little difference over standard class than the sign '1st class' on the windows and headrests. One is tempted to reiterate the Red Dwarf line for comparison, "are you sure you want to step up to red alert? It does mean changing the bulb".
My worst, and similarly most amusing, train experience involved standing next to a women as I was holding onto one of the vertical floor poles. This went on for about a stop or so before the women literally pushed my arm off the pole and stopped me holding on, shaking her head at me while I did so. I took my [non-leaky] earphones out and said, probably somewhat aggressively, "I'm sorry, is there a problem?" to which she said, "you're standing too close to me" at which I asked what would she rather I do. She said, "how about you stand over there?" rather cheekily as she pointed to a space a few feet down the carriage. I pointed out that I was holding [a rather rare] musical instrument and needed to stabilise myself, so was standing in a better position. She became indignant and moved further down the carriage, saying nothing else. I got the last laugh at the next stop when the train completely filled up and she was crushed against the glass. I thought she must have hardly ever used a train before.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 12:57pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I rarely travel by train, but on the last 2 occasions I've had to go to London in rush hour, there has been some twonk who thinks it's a great idea to try and cram their bike into a space filled to the gunwhales with standing commuters.
That was pretty annoying.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 8:41pm mike wrote:
Actually I think all this criticism would be better directed towards the rail company intent on pushing their inevitably enslaved customers into completely understandable madness. Interesting that Maria Caulfield is now saying today that she is finding it easier to deal with the union than with the rail operator!
What a tangled web: meanwhile the suffering is real and enormous in its impact. Do stop the unfeeling nonsense of this thread. It's completely out of kilter with the current horror thats been inflicted on commuters for months and months.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 8:44pm Clifford wrote:
Mike, they are two entirely separate issues.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 8:51pm Amy wrote:
ACT - that 'thonk 'will probably have had to ride his bike on both bookends of his commute in order to keep his job and support his family. Bikes are allowed!! In fact that bike is probably the only way he can see his kids at bedtime. Really have you no idea of the dreadful constraints commuters are under - and not just in Lewes - in the midst of this politically inspired madness that has been going on for too long. Your post was so unlike your normally rational and reasonable responses. The present situation is not a game nor should it bear the brunt of cheap barbs.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 9:14pm Jeff wrote:
And yet most of the Southern region populace will vote Tory again next time.
Unbelievably stupid, you get what you deserve.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 9:47pm Lewes commuter. wrote:
Please explain how voting for a different party would make things any better.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 9:56pm Carter wrote:
Mike , you miss the point entirely of this thread. It is nothing to do with the Southern rail issues which has already been discussed to death, it's all about commuters behaviour past or present irrelevant of which company or line they choose to use.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 10:17pm mike wrote:
Given the pain so many commuters are presently going through, to ridicule commuter's foibles is just plain nasty. It's inappropriate. The people accused are among those at their wits end. There was a near riot on Monday at Victoria station - no press coverage of course. The government are playing a very nasty and dangerous game. What a festival time for families caught up in this political game! You have no idea of the pain and sheer exhaustion.
On 9 Dec 2016 at 10:32pm Moby Dick wrote:
Gunwales, boyo. 
On 10 Dec 2016 at 7:59am Carrismatic Phil wrote:
I must say that I agree with Mike on this one, the current political situation is forcing people to behave in this way.
On 10 Dec 2016 at 8:05am Work in lewes wrote:
I find the most annoying commuters are the ones who bang on about how awful it is to be a commuter. If it's that bad get a job locally.
Put up, or shut up frankly!
On 10 Dec 2016 at 9:25am Jugglinglifeandwork wrote:
My husband got the train to Brighton from Lewes recently on a strike day. ( and yes he was en route to London - freelance - works where there's work) The man standing next to him had a fit but there was nowhere to lie him down so husband and another passenger who saw what was happening held the man up on either side to stop him hurting himself and keep him safe. people are facing insane and potentially life threatening journeys, some are behaving appallingly, others trying to get through whatever the day brings in order to pay the bills.
On 10 Dec 2016 at 9:40am Clive wrote:
Years ago, when much younger I spent a journey from Victoria to Haywards Heath with my left leg pinned to the door by the outstretched leg of a lady sitting opposite. When she got up to leave she said 'thats a shame I have to get off here'. Never did see her again!
On 10 Dec 2016 at 9:49am spinning plates wrote:
the current situation should not stop people behaving without consideration for others such as shopping bags on seats or not moving down the asile. it should have the opposite effect we are all in the same boat and should help each other out and not just think about number one, This has been continuing irrespective of any strike action and must not be used to explain or excuse others being thoughtless for others. Did loud music from headphones. feet on seats. news papers spread out. smelly foods etc all start recently as a rest of the current turmoil?
On 10 Dec 2016 at 10:13am Clifford wrote:
mike wrote: 'Given the pain so many commuters are presently going through, to ridicule commuter's foibles is just plain nasty.'
Mike you seem determined to miss the point. This thread isn't about the strike, it's about the experiences commuters have had over a period of time.
On 10 Dec 2016 at 11:53am Sunshine wrote:
There is no excuse for bad manners
On 10 Dec 2016 at 3:34pm Ghost of Maggie wrote:
Just rejoice and be thankful that we are beating the Unions - Remember the miners.
On 10 Dec 2016 at 7:35pm Not a commuter as such wrote:
Bit of deviation, but I'd like to thank an anonymous passenger who showed kindness despite Southern/ASLEF's chronic shambles.
I was travelling back to Lewes with my 4-year old when the train was terminated at Haywards Heath (no explanation, obviously). It was already pretty late so I plumped for queuing for a cab home, and the man in front let us get the last available taxi ahead of him. Yes, we are all in it together, and I'm grateful there are kind people who can keep their generosity of spirit through it all.
On 10 Dec 2016 at 8:39pm Knight Rider k wrote:
Most annoying commuters? That's easy - all those that bought property in Lewes making it nigh on impossible for any local to get a foot on the ladder. Ain't Karma a bitch?
On 10 Dec 2016 at 10:45pm Clifford wrote:
Knight Rider k wrote: 'Most annoying commuters? That's easy - all those that bought property in Lewes making it nigh on impossible for any local to get a foot on the ladder.'
And we mustn't forget the locals who sold them in the first place, making a nice profit. Either you believe in the market or you don't. If you don't, campaign for the socialist alternative.
On 11 Dec 2016 at 9:26am Kit wrote:
@ Knight Rider - a good point . But it ain't just Lewes. It's the whole of Sussex. And it's been going on for decades.
On 11 Dec 2016 at 10:24pm Tda wrote:
Some of the guards/on board customer service helpers/whatever we are supposed to call them now can be deeply irritating.
Why say all the station names, then get the automatic robot woman to say it all again?
The worst one is about 50, has rock n' roll hair and wolf man sideburns. He twatters on and on and on in a hospital DJ voice that really gets under my skin. Headphones on, volume up, zone out.
Amyway I'm thinking of giving it all up and living on a kibbutz - it's all too much now. I support unions usually but I don't see what they're protesting about in this case. Grrrrr.
On 12 Dec 2016 at 7:59am Observer wrote:
"all those that bought property in Lewes making it nigh on impossible for any local to get a foot on the ladder"
Because no lewes local has ever been a commuter too.
Indeed, I great it's actually impossible for anyone born and bred in lewes to get on a train to London. Or for that matter, a train to Brighton, Crawley or Eastbourne.
Rumor is that they explode like a beautiful firework if they do.
On 12 Dec 2016 at 10:28am Ethelred wrote:
Decades doesn't cover it Kit. Incomers have been causing an insatiable demand for property in and around Lewes since the Danes first sallied up the Ouse. If only the Saxons had the foresight to better fortify Lewes' twittens perhaps us genuine Lewes yeomen wouldn't now have to do so much graphic design to sustain our pig-rearing farmsteads off Rotten Row. And the Saxons' failure in this regard was, in my opinion, down to the dangerous intermingling with the Angles (I believe they arrived from north of East Grinstead) whose values WERE JUST NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR OWN.
I defy anyone who says this post is off-topic.
On 12 Dec 2016 at 1:10pm The Unready wrote:
I think we might have come over from Holland, a bit later than the Angles. -Sorry 
On 14 Dec 2016 at 6:52am South London Hipster wrote:
I quite like Lewes, its quaint and a bit backwards in time. House prices are expensive anywhere you go not just Lewes, welcome to the real world folks. I live in Clapham and hope to do more day trips there once the rail situation sorts itself out, put some money into the local community by hanging around the cafes, pity about the weather down there but the people are nice though. With regards to commuting traits I hate when you step out of the carriage to let someone off but find you can't get back on the train, shocking at times I'd say.