Atomic Systems

Actually, the only reason I know this is because I had thought about buying a mobile phone "blocker", and saw this health warning on a website so stayed clear:

"Note for UK customers: jamming equipment is illegal to use in the UK as it violates sections 1 & 13 of the 1949 telegraphy act, we are therefore unable to supply jammers to any UK customer with the exception of certain military and government departments who have the necessary authorisation from the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom). Please note that no exceptions can be made on this policy."

Ash

Re the noisy talkers who insist on sharing their 'phone conversation with fellow passengers...

I always have a wry smile to myself at the general sigh of relief that reverberates through a carriage whenever the train enters a tunnel

terrycunliffe wrote:Re the noisy talkers who insist on sharing their 'phone conversation with fellow passengers...

I always have a wry smile to myself at the general sigh of relief that reverberates through a carriage whenever the train enters a tunnel

However, on NXEC trains they are installing Boosters for Mobile Phones and Wifi to make sure that signal is uninterrupted when the train goes through

ashgray wrote:Actually, the only reason I know this is because I had thought about buying a mobile phone "blocker", and saw this health warning on a website so stayed clear:

"Note for UK customers: jamming equipment is illegal to use in the UK as it violates sections 1 & 13 of the 1949 telegraphy act, we are therefore unable to supply jammers to any UK customer with the exception of certain military and government departments who have the necessary authorisation from the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom). Please note that no exceptions can be made on this policy."

Ash

I think that certain parts of the 1949 act have been amended as previously use of the iTrip radio based iPod connector for cars was illegal, whereas now they're ok to use.

Maybe it was something Chiltern looked at, but implementation was decided against for the same reasons you decided not to purchase your blocker.

With regard to talking on a mobile on the train: as long as the caller is not talking too loudly, how is it different to conversing with someone sitting next to you?

bgstrowger wrote:With regard to talking on a mobile on the train: as long as the caller is not talking too loudly, how is it different to conversing with someone sitting next to you?

I agree 100% with this - you have to look at what the aim of this ruling was when the TOCs adopted it, and it certainly wouldnot have been to ban or limit converation. If it's too loud, well that's just annoying for anyone around and as I've said, the biggest problem are the wretched ring-tones.

Ash

Afraid there's not much you can do about ringtones, apart from feeling smugly superior that you have better taste if they're really rubbish or cheesy (I'm thinking Crazy Frog as an example).

Unfortunately it all boils down to how well the quiet zones are enforced by the onboard staff. It's just a shame that some may not want to intervene for fear of being verbally or physically assaulted.

Well without wanting to repeat myself. c2c don't exactly publicise the recently introduced Quiet Zones as much as they could do. There is "Quiet Zone" vinyls on the outside of the carriages. I allways notice these, but perhaps other genuinelly don't spot this. And there are only about 6 stickers per coach advising of the Quiet Zones and mobile phones should not be used. But if anyone is not near enough to the stickers to read them, then they may well not be aware that mobile phones should not be used in these carriages. At a distance they may think the stickers are just sort of adverts. But saying that, I do believe that a number of people are fully aware of the Quiet Zones, but just completely ignore it and talk rubbish on their mobiles. It also does't help that c2c don't have conductors onboard their trains. Mind you this wouldn't be easy, due to the short distances between stations and the narrow gangways what with the 3 + 2 seating and the crowded carriages at peak times.

It would help and wouldn't exactly be very expensive, if c2c put more Quiet Zone stickers in these carriages. Like on the back of EVERY seat. Plus either PA announcement from the train driver or a pre-recorded annoucement advising "please note carriage/s x are Quiet Zones. Mobile phones should NOT be used in these carriages please.". These announcement should be clear and LOUD. As I've heard some announcements which are barely audible. If people ignore that, then they are just completely ignorant. Other train companies such as First Great Western and South West Trains(the other services which I use the most) do at least usually(but not allways) give PA announcements about the Quiet Zones onboard their trains. No such announcements on c2c trains.

Personally I would like to see the introduction of on the spot fines for using mobile phones in designated Quiet Zones on trains. Maybe £80 for example.

Tonight I counted TEN people in the quiet carriage talking on their mobiles. All the same old rubbish, not exactly emergerncy/earth shatteringly important conversations. Including one bloke who talked really loud.

The introduction of Quiet Zones on c2c trains just doesn't seem to be working atall. I look forward to what c2c will possibly do about this when they review the situation of the Quiet Zones on their train services.

They are also going to do something with the London Underground and install signal boosters so that mobile phones can be used across the whole Underground network. God forbid when that happens. Dear oh dear.

As I said, in some of the other countries I've used public transport the amount of people using mobile phones is very very low. Pretty close to non existent. It's a shame it's not the same situation here in the UK.......

The train manager on a Cross Country service today made quite a good announcement.

Coach F is or designated quite coach, please refrain from using mobile phones or personal stero equipment in this carriage as thats the general idea. If you wish to use personal headphones onboard please remember the clue is in the name as the rest of the carriage don't want to enjoy your music too.

(Well it was along those lines)

Cheers,
Ali

Where were you travelling from/to? A few services i've been on, theres this guy who is sooo funny - and scarily knowledgable - he'll walk down the train telling people what time their train gets into their station without looking at the timetable. Trained well I guess

6rdfar90 wrote:Where were you travelling from/to? A few services i've been on, theres this guy who is sooo funny - and scarily knowledgable - he'll walk down the train telling people what time their train gets into their station without looking at the timetable. Trained well I guess

Darlington - Sheffield (It was the Bristol service), he was quite young and tall, built quite well too.

Nah, not who im thinking of then

As usual there were people on mobiles and being loud on my London-Bristol journey and back again.

Saturday morning, the delayed 0815 London Paddington-Swansea service. The PA announcement system was barely audible, and I heard no mention abou the Quiet Zone whatsoever. As soon as I got on the train some bloke in front of me started using his mobile. Why did he go in the Quiet Zone then? Though only for about 10 minutes. Nevertheless he shouldn't be using the mobile in the Quiet Zone. Then just a bit later after the train departed some woman started babbling on her phone to a number of people. "What are you having for breakfast this morning?" was one bit of her converstaion, hardly earth shatteringly important phone calls. Again, why did she choose to travel in the Quiet Zone? There were plenty of empty seats in the other carriages as the train was opened up ready for passengers to board.

Then on my return journey, the 1805 service from Bristol. A small bunch of kids around 15-17 years old boarded the train the Quiet Zone. They were very noisy. Non-stop chatting and LOUD. There was a clear PA announcement about the Quiet Zone about "Mobile phone not permitted in these carriages. And any noise should be kept to an absolute minimum". As well as when the conductor came round to check tickets, he also advised them that they should be quiet as this was the Quiet Zone. Despite this they still carried on being noisy. Anyway after about 20 minutes, people started telling them to shut up. Including first a bloke who quite angrily told them to "If you're going to be noisy, can you push off to another carriage". Though he used a word a bit stronger than "push off". Then just barely 5 minutes later a middle aged woman who told them off. Then just a few minutes later some pensioner woman who again advised them to be quiet and mentioned "I specifically go in these Quiet Zones so I can enjoy a peaceful journey....". Then about 10 minutes later, another bloke again advised them including saying "I'm trying to read here. I can't concentrate with that racket you're making.". At around 1855 they finally shut up somewhat. Though for the last half hour of the journey from around 1945-2015, they started being noisy again.

But it was good that at least a number of people told them to be quiet.

Quiet Zones should mean exactly that. Including not talking loudly and non-stop, like those kids were doing. If people want to do that, there are other carriages to goto.

My Dad once asked a woman to stop using her mobile phone in the quite coach, to which she called him very rude when really she was the one being inconsiderate.

When I'm in a quite coach I become quite satirical.

I make a noise discreetly which catches the offender - when they look at me i just look at them sternly and tap the sign on the window once.

Never failed.

Good strategy Ali

Ash