Feet on the seat is the number one train etiquette gripe bugging Brisbane city train commuters, according to Queensland Rail (QR).
Bicycles on trains during peak times and people not vacating priority seating for those who need it were the other top issues to round out our top-three grievances.
QR has released a detailed look at the bad behaviours most bugging train passengers on its south-east Queensland network these past six months.
Other common issues to arrive include eating and drinking on the trains and noise in the quiet carriages.
QR CEO Nick Easy said they have received some truly bizarre train etiquette reports — including some customers using trains as a delivery service to move their furniture from one place to another — but nothing bothered commuters quite like others using more than their fair share of seating.
"A clear theme stands out when it comes to feedback from our customers on train etiquette — our customers cherish their space and a seat, especially after a long day at work," Mr Easy said.
| Train line | Top etiquette gripes |
| Beenleigh | Bicycle on train; eating, drinking; feet/bags on seats |
| Caboolture | Bicycle on train; feet/bags on seats; noise in the quiet carriage |
| Cleveland | Bicycle on train; eating, drinking; noise in the quiet carriage |
| Doomben | Bicycle on train; feet/bags on seats |
| Ferny Grove | Bicycle on train; misbehaving school children |
| Gold Coast | Eating, drinking; feet/bags on seats; misbehaving school children; noise in the quiet carriage |
| Ipswich | Eating, drinking; feet/bags on seats; misbehaving school children |
| Redcliffe Peninsula | Bicycle on train; priority seating; noise in the quiet carriage |
| Shorncliffe | Feet/bags on seats; noise in the quiet carriage; personal devices; misbehaving school children |
| Springfield | Bicycle on train; noise in the quiet carriage |
| Sunshine Coast | Bicycle on train; noise in the quiet carriage |
A breakdown of top etiquette gripes by train lines found misbehaving school children ranked highly for Ferny Grove, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Shorncliffe commuters.
"We also encourage parents to chat to their children about good train etiquette habits to ensure a happy commute for everyone during their journey home from school," Mr Easy said.
Noise in the quiet carriage was also one of the top bugbears on almost all train lines
The Redcliffe line, which only opened a year ago, is already hearing complaints about bicycles in carriages during peak hour, people not giving up priority seating for those who need them, and noise in the quiet carriage.
Mr Easy said QR regularly received feedback on train etiquette experiences through Facebook and Twitter.
"We encourage our customers to continue to provide their feedback, both online and at their local Commuter Catch-Ups, so that we can continue to work together to raise awareness of good train etiquette," he said.
"We do our best to influence positive behaviours and promote good train etiquette through train and station posters and announcements, as well as through our website, rail safety orientation days with school students and on social media — including our Train Etiquette Tuesday reminders.
"However, we do rely on our customers to do the right thing and promote good etiquette through their behaviour as well."
What's your experience been?
ABC Brisbane fans on Facebook have been sharing their less-than-pleasant experiences on QR trains for the past couple of weeks.
Here were some of the top complaints:
"I had my toddler in a stroller last weekend and I'm 37 weeks pregnant. I was on my own and no-one stood up to let me sit in the priority seats. They just death stared me while I tried to navigate the aisle. And no-one helped me hop off the train to lift the stroller down the big drop off." - Kerri
"Feet on the seat, and people using a seat for their bag when seating is limited at busy times. And.... Bad personal hygiene. I am going to be commuting on trains to CBD again soon. This has brought all the petty annoyances back to remind me." - Dianna
"Feet on the seat. I see it every day, mostly high school kids." - Patrick
"Eating...especially like McDonald's and then leaving the rubbish behind." - Christine
"Being forced to listen to entire loud phone conversations." - Rhonda
"Music! Stop playing out loud, we don't want to hear it AND when using earphones, have the music turned down. We don't want to hear it but you're sending yourself deaf." - Natasha
"Men who manspread AND women who have an enormous number of bags which you have to trip over getting in and out of your seat." - Michael
There were a couple of stories shared that were almost too gross to repeat:
"I once saw a young man get on the train, sit down, take off his shoes and proceed to trim his toenails with his teeth. Ugh!" - Iris
"Sniffing incessantly. So gross in closed quarters!!" - Karen
"Once had a large, VERY drunk bloke fall on me & go to sleep! Thankfully a QR staffer saw it and fixed the situation quickly." - Taya
"Picking toe nails. Farting." - Julia
The one to take the cake had to be the picture of a man taking up a precious seat on a peak-hour train from the Gold Coast to the city for his portable DVD player.
"At first I chuckled at his little setup complete with remote … but then it was just downright rude," Lauren Turner, who took the photo, said.
