Hmmmmm!
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Sometimes I think you crazy hearing folks don't know how good you have it.
Posted by 20th Century (Member # 2196) on :
LOL, very good Mr. Kisor. The "Quiet Car".....I always think it's for cell phone free noises and cell chatter. I hope casual moderately toned conversation is acceptable.
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
I'm actually one of those "early morning PHL to WAS riders" (although I wasn't back in 2001, when the quiet cars originated). I *always* sit in the quiet car, after too many unpleasant experiences with loud cellphone talkers. One was a young lady with no sense of personal privacy, telling a friend all about the previous night's date (in explicit detail). Another was an Israeli businessman who alternated between Hebrew and profanity-laced English for the entire hour and a half trip, to the point that, even though we weren't in the quiet car, other passengers were asking the conductor to shut him up.
I've only had a few instances of loud confrontations. Mostly, people in the Quiet Car are quiet. And so am I.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I will be on the NYP to WAS train shortly, as the first leg of my midwestern trip. I too will opt for the Quiet Car if I can find it.
I have only been on the ACELA twice & must say I have had my two very worst experiences with cell phone users on both of those trips--one of those times when I upgraded (with my free upgrade) to first class!
But I did also witness a confrontation on the quiet car (on the Regional between NYP and DC). It was a fellow from Ethiopia, chatting up some girls sitting near him. I don't think he understood what the Quiet Car meant. It was the conductor who had the confrontation with him; I thought they might come to blows.
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
Sojourner:
On the Regionals, the quiet car is now normally the seoond car on the train, right behind the business class car. The cafe car is now normally in the middle of the train.
On Acela Express, the quiet car is usually the coach at the opposite end of the train from the first class car (unless that's changed recently -- I haven't ridden Acela Express in several months).
In either case, there should be several signs hanging from the overhead and signs on the car end doors as well -- so anybody who doesn't realize it's the quiet car is either a moron or can't read.
Posted by MDRR (Member # 2992) on :
Actually, on Acela Express, the Quiet car is, and always has been, next to the first class car.
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
I haven't travelled in the quiet car as often as that reporter for The Times, but I've never had a bad experience as the rules have always been strictly enforced. No chatter of any kind whether into a cell phone or with a fellow traveller. In the non-quiet cars often there are young children present which can add to the decibel levels above cell phones and general conversation.