Strange train journey, got me thinking.

I know what you mean oldbatty, that is why I make sure I have my earphones on any journey. Even if I am not listening to anything, I find them a deterrent to unsolicited conversations with strangers. Sunglasses are extremely handy also to avoid eye contact.

I try to,be respectful of other people's personal space for the reason that I do not like mine invaded.

Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Christmas ?

Thanks GG. Honestly, it was weird.

I do so empathise oldbatty and this is one reason why I loathe public transport. I usually have a book/Kindle with me, so am obviously reading that, but it still doesn't deter some people, unfortunately! I wouldn't dream of starting up a conversation with someone who is clearly reading .

Have a lovely Christmas ob

I don't travel on trains much but in general find people reluctant to break the ice, if I break the ice some will just reply, some will chat on, and on, and on. Thats OK if they are interesting, but if the life story is nothing more than a chain of misery it's an ordeal.

I am amazed at the types of phone calls people are willing to make on public transport.
There was a young woman sitting behind me last week who was talking loudly about the domestic abuse she was being subjected to at home. Had she seemed timid and browbeaten I would have felt sympathy but she was loud and obnoxious.

I don't mind a few words, usually a shared interest in some train failings!

I seriously wonder if people who " over share" are ok.

I know how you feel, travelling on trains has been a large part of my grandparenting! I usually tried to book a seat in First Class if at all possible. It was a bit more costly, but much more relaxed and enjoyable. My fellow passengers were usually business people on their laptops for most of the journey. Paying the extra was worth it.

I like to see people striking up conversations on public transport. It happens all the time round here. I often “talk myself related”, as my dad used to put it, to perfect strangers, and DH will often ask who I’ve been talking to at a checkout (no idea, we just got chatting!). I’m not one for starting the conversation, but will always respond, even if some do go on a bit. The person who wants to talk might not have spoken to anyone else that day - there are a lot of lonely people around.

If I don’t feel like talking for whatever reason I just get my book or phone out when I sit down, and find that people leave me in peace.

Maggie, totally agree. I often talk to folk in shops or in the charity shop where I work. They may go all day without a chat and I too.

Yes I agree too Maggie. I will stop and chat to people in the street, or in shops, which is fine because it's in passing and you can brighten someone's day if they're lonely (and my day too!).
But somehow it's different on the bus or train, particularly the train because you are a captive audience, unable to escape the possibly numbing boredom of someone's life story told in the minutest detail over 2 or 3 hours.

Whereas abroad train travellers talk to (and share food with) their travel companions so dont need to chat on their phones to pass the journey. Imo brits have too many boundaries. I love train travel abroad where people naturally introduce themselves to the people they'll be sitting next to for the journey. Its so much better and people dont get on each others nerves because theyre not all trying to preserve their own bubbles

Oh dear. I'm afraid I'm a chatty sort and often get talking to people on public transport. I'm also a shameless eavesdropper who often wishes she could butt in on other people's phone conversations on the bus - just to clarify a few points of course!
I'm the OP's worst nightmare!
DH goes first class...

Ah but you're a writer Jane, eavesdropping and talking to strangers is part of the job

But there's chatting to people (I do too) and there's oversharing. A man on the train a while back was describing his wife's cervix to a friend at the top of his voice ... and when someone said "Excuse me mate, too much information" - he got shitty!

I was also chuckling to myself in the bus queue recently because the woman in front of me was complaining about having to explain "her private business" to the housing association worker - and then proceeded to regale all of us on the same.

Complaining on the phone to a friend, that is.

You beat me to it Jane10 I enjoy a chat . It passes the time and you can always stop if you need to.
I met an amazing woman from Shetland on the bus to Aberdeen. I spent 8 hours from Sydney to Singapore exchanging life stories with the person next to me.
Just shows we are all different.
You and I have met though haven't we.

It doesn't bother me either way.

Sometimes, if the person next to me starts to speak to me and it suits me, I am happy to chat to them for quite a while.

However, if someone was clearly preoccupied or didn't seem chatty, I wouldn't make a nuisance of myself.

Do you think we like sharing in GN because we can choose when and whether or not to listen to the replies, but on public transport we are a captive audience?

A couple of weeks ago I had a 40 minute bus journey spent talking to a stranger ( a lady about my age) who told me (among other things) of all the placess she goes to courtesy of her pass, for a day out. It gave me some good ideas.
Last week I sat near to a labrador on the lap of a lady (in the hope of availing myself of some canine therapy) who turned out to be an assistant dog ( harness had been removed for the long journey for comfort). It was amazing what that dog could do for the owner who has asthma and was susceptable to blackouts - it could fetch her inhaler day or night if it heard her coughing, , sit by her if she blacked out, check if she is breathing and if not jump on her chest to try and restart the heart, and press her emergency tag if she does not respond - even opening the door to the emergency services. The lady also told me how, when she was on her phone in a public place, three people were loosely circling round her with intent to grab the phone but the dog stayed close and growled and barked to scare them off (as witnessed by some people at a bus stop who told her afterwards).
I am looking forward to my next journey - surely human interaction is something to cherish above virtual reality? Even if you only listen you may have lightened someone’s day.

Wow! What a dog. A real canine companion. Just think, you could have missed all that interesting info if you hadn't got chatting to the lady.
Maybe it's my age and generally harmless appearance but it seems OK for people to talk to me. I might be listening for all the wrong reasons though. Some people are so daft that I can't wait to hear what they might come out with next.
If I'm far from home I sometimes adopt alternative personas. I've been a pole dancer who had to retire with serious chafing from grasping the pole. That worked well enough for a nice person to offer me a cashiers job in Cleethorpes provided I fit the overall. I did feel a bit ashamed. I'm also a person called June who has been banned from Malta!
Keep chatting on public transport - it might be me sitting next to you...

Oh dear I chat to everyone in the street, bus queues, on the bus, train, airport it passes my time and do you know I ve made a good friend from a chance meeting in a shop
I am quite open to people’s personal space etc and if I felt the other person wasn’t wanting to talk I can shut up and travel quietly too
When I m in London on the tube I can’t get over how po faced everyone is They probably think I m a nutter when I strike up conversation

Forgot to add my best friend struck up conversation with a
lady on a coach trip now they go all over the county together on coach trips I think it’s lovely to be open

I suppose there is a difference between striking up a conversation - about the weather or train times - and invading someone's space. The latter has happened to me too.
OP did say it was a rude family who were noisy and smelly who sat next to her.
I would resent that too.
I once sat opposite a couple on a crowded train who were practically having sex and treating me as invisible. I told them lewd behaviour was illegal and please would they stop as I found it offensive. The man became quite rude but I think they did calm down.
Nobody else paid any attention but I saw another seat and made a grab for it.

I've always liked the name of these offences (Scots law) -
Shameless Indecency or, alternatively, Lewd and Libidinous behaviour. I don't know which is deemed most serious.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PlKxiH9K1w