Feet on seats were the third-most common complaints received by Qld Rail in 2024. Photo: Qld Rail/Twitter (X)
There was literally something fishy about one passenger on a suburban Brisbane rail service last year as Queensland Rail passengers named and shamed bad habits.
Qld Rail says that of 50 million train trips last year and 773 cases of bad behaviour reported, one stood out.
One commuter alerted Qld Rail’s social media team to a dead yellowtail bream fish that had been left on a seat on the Cleveland service in Brisbane.
A yellowtail bream fish found on the Cleveland line service in Brisbane. Photo: Qld Rail/Twitter (X)
This required the fish to be removed and the seat cleaned, Qld Rail says.
Yoghurt tubs and eggshells were also among rubbish left on seats.
Queensland Rail spokeswoman Clare Hunter says 2024 was busy for them thanks to the introduction of 50 cent fares.
“The vast majority of our customers did the right thing every day by respecting their fellow passengers and displaying great train etiquette,” she says.
COMPLAINTS
Qld Rail wants passengers to ‘scale’ back their onboard dining to ‘not at all’ as eating on the train featured in the top etiquette complaints of 2024.
“Eating on the train is against the rules and is disrespectful to your fellow passengers but leaving your rubbish behind (scales, shells or peels) is downright gross. Pick up after yourself,” Hunter says.
Bags and feet on the seats, playing music or talking loudly also accounted for some of the 773 etiquette complaints filed last year.
“Unfortunately, there were some who spoiled the journey for others with complaints about feet on the seats, noise, rubbish and priority seating.”
“It’s fairly obvious but if you’re in our Quiet Carriages, turn the volume down on your devices, use headphones and keep conversations to a low volume,” Hunter says.
“We had lots of complaints about loud music. While we love a banger, there’s a time and place for music — it’s not the train.”
“We’re appealing to our customers’ sense of decency – good train etiquette is key to ensuring everyone has a safe and pleasant journey on the rail network.”
Of the reports filed to Qld Rail, noise topped the list with 94 complaints followed by wrong bike use (81), students misbehaving (80) and feet and bags on seats (63), which tied with loud music.
