[Sir Trev]

This could have gone in the Gripe thread but it seemed so odd I thought I'd see what everyone else thought.

Had to go to Nottingham for a meeting today. Three hours in the car or four and bit in the train. Decided on the train and I was able to get started on the actions I ended up with from the meeting while on the way home. But, taking the train was not exactly restful...

One the way up I was first on a "commuter" train full of people working or being polite, as in not annoying anyone as they do it every day and that's what you do. My connecting train however was that bit later and it was hell. The baby screaming just behind me. The selfish youngsters all around me listening to music or watching programmes on their devices without headphones. I could not hear myself think!

The way back was almost as bad. First train was rammed and almost as noisy. No baby this time but a whiny toddler relentlessly demanding answers to everything in an "outdoor" voice. Lots more devices all blaring out their games or game shows it seems. And a HUGE geezer who sat opposite me at a table seat with those wireless ear bud things everyone seems to have these days. Goodness only knows how loud he had the levels but I could hear every beat and swear word of his hip-hop music all the way back to New Street. And to top it all off my last train was in very old rolling stock with a broken heater - thanks Chiltern!

So I ask you. Does everyone find it as noisy as that on their train journeys these days or was I unlucky? Are those wireless earbuds really that bad at keeping the noise in or was the big guy on a fast track to permanent hearing loss? Are people really that selfish they don't care how much they annoy the folk around them??

I'll probably take the car next time.