12 Things You Definitely Shouldn’t Do on a Train

Some of the links might be affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. See our disclaimer for more info.

Traveling by train might not be the fastest way to get from A to B, but it’s often more affordable and scenic. As such, traveling by rail has been a big hit with budget backpackers trying to save money for decades, especially across Europe. However, as easy and affordable as railroad transportation can be, there are mistakes you must avoid.

Luckily, we’re here to outline those things so you don’t fall into any traps. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 12 things not to do on a train. These entries are simply the biggest mistakes you can make on trains. By avoiding them, you can reach your destination hassle-free and care-free.

Don’t Travel Without a Ticket

Save this!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

Let’s start with a super simple thing that’s often the downfall of many travelers. While it can be tempting to travel without a ticket in the hope that a train guard will not ask you to present one, we never recommend traveling without a train ticket unless you know you can purchase one onboard.

In most countries, especially Europe, traveling on a train without a ticket is illegal. Don’t panic; you won’t be imprisoned for traveling without one, but you’ll likely face a fine. Often, these fines are much more than the cost of your ticket, and you’ll likely be asked to pay for a ticket, too. Therefore, it makes little sense to risk it.

Don’t Leave Your Bags Unattended

We strongly recommend always keeping your bags on you when traveling by train. Although the chances of being robbed are relatively small, keeping your bags with you eliminates the risks entirely. If you leave your bags unattended, even for a few minutes, your valuables are vulnerable to potential pickpockets.

Admittedly, it’s not always possible to keep your bags with you on a busy train, but you should always make sure you can at least see your bags at all times. We also recommend keeping your bag in front of you when standing up on a busy train. If your bag is on your back, it’s easier for pickpockets to unzip it and harder for you to notice.

Don’t Arrive Too Late

If you turn up too late, your problems will begin before you board your train. Jumping on a train isn’t quite the same as hopping on the subway a few seconds before your train departs. Often, you’re given a train you must take at a specific time instead of any train along the route, like on the subway.

You don’t have to arrive two or three hours early like you do to catch a flight, but giving yourself 20 to 30 minutes buffer time will relieve any stress, especially if you’re faced with a long queue to get through the ticket barrier. Arriving early also gives you plenty of time to work out where your platform is.

Don’t Sit in the Wrong Seat or Carriage

Seat assignments vary greatly between train operators. For example, some train operators provide every passenger with a specific seat, while others only assign a carriage. With this in mind, it’s essential to understand the ins and outs of your ticket. That way, you can sit in the right place when you get on the train.

This isn’t a massive problem because you can quickly move, but it can cause inconvenience if you’re comfy and the train is busy. One time, I realized I was sitting in the wrong carriage on a train. Then, I discovered the carriage I was supposed to be in had no free seats left. To my disappointment, I had to stand for the rest of the journey. Don’t be like me!

Don’t Forget To Pack Snacks

One of the biggest mistakes you can make on a long train journey is forgetting to pack snacks. Unfortunately, I also learned this mistake the hard way. Depending on the kind of journey, onboard dining options vary massively. Some trains have a snack carriage with a wide range of treats, and others serve gourmet meals.

Meanwhile, some train operators don’t offer food or drink options or sell out quickly. In these instances, you could be left without any snacks for the entire duration of the journey. Luckily, you can avoid disappointment by packing your own snacks. Packing snacks is also an excellent way to save money because food and drinks on trains are usually overpriced.

Don’t Miss Your Stop

For obvious reasons, one of the biggest mistakes you can make when traveling by train is missing your stop. This may sound like a simple mistake to avoid, but you’ll be surprised how easy it is to miss your stop. Even if you know where to get off, you can miss your stop if you don’t move quickly enough to get off the train.

It’s also not uncommon for station announcements to be made in a foreign language. To avoid missing your stop, familiarize yourself with your itinerary, get your bags ready before you reach the station, and make your way to the door before they open. Of course, don’t fall asleep before you reach your destination, either.

Don’t Put Your Bag on the Seat Next to You

Unless you want to annoy other travelers, you shouldn’t put your bag on the seat next to you, especially on a busy train. The train seats are for people, not bags, so make sure you leave the seat next to you free in case somebody wants to sit down.

In most countries, you’ll be considered rude if the train is busy and you take an extra seat with your bag. Don’t even be surprised if someone moves your bag for you. Having said that, it’s usually okay to place your bag on the seat next to you if the train is almost empty. Otherwise, keep your bag on the floor or in the overhead storage space.

Don’t Sit in the Aisle Seat When the Window Seat Is Free

Scenic Train Rides in Europe The Bernina Express, Switzerland -Italy — © tawatchai1990 / Adobe Stock

A cunning trick many people use to stop people from sitting next to them is to sit in the aisle seat when the window seat is free. In some places, especially the United Kingdom, you might get away with this because people find it too awkward to ask you to move. Worse yet, other travelers might just climb over you to sit down.

While it might give you more space and comfort, it’s unfair to other travelers, so just don’t do it. Sitting in the window seat first saves everyone time and avoids creating a major annoyance. Besides, sitting in the window seat is much more fun because you can admire the scenic views as the train travels.

Don’t Put Your Feet on the Seats

Putting your feet up on the opposite seats on a train can seem tempting. However, it’s one of the worst things you can do. Putting your legs up on the opposite seats is considered rude and unhygienic. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria, it’s also deemed illegal.

If you get caught putting your feet on the seats on a train in these countries, you can be fined or issued with a police caution. However, it could be argued that the most significant punishment you’ll face is the loss of respect from other passengers. Let’s face it: nobody wants to sit on a seat after you’ve had your dirty feet on it.

Don’t Talk Loudly on the Phone

If you’ve ever sat next to someone on a train speaking loudly on the phone, you’ll know just how annoying it can be. With that in mind, don’t be that person. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with answering your phone on the train, but that shouldn’t mean everyone else needs to hear the ins and outs of your conversation.

Aside from being annoying for other passengers, speaking loudly on the phone can also be risky, especially if you’re on a work call. All it takes is the wrong person hearing work-sensitive information for you to cause a potential data breach. Likewise, don’t share confidential personal information on the phone when sitting next to strangers on the train.

Don’t Play Music Out Loud

Similarly, you should never play your music out loud on the train, no matter how good your music is. This may seem like an odd thing to do anyway, but we’ve been on trains where we’ve had to move several times because of other passengers playing loud music.

Like speaking loudly on the phone, other passengers don’t need to know your business, so put your headphones in and listen to your music privately. Listening to music out loud is considered rude, disrespectful, and annoying. If you don’t have any headphones, you’ll unfortunately have to go without music for the duration of the journey.

Don’t Leave Litter Behind

This final must-not is super simple and something most people don’t do. However, you’ll be surprised how many people leave trash behind on the train. Unfortunately, many people leave litter on the seats and floors of trains, making them messy and unclean for the next set of passengers who arrive.

Littering is not okay under any circumstances. There is always somewhere to put your trash, whether that be on the train platform when you get off or on the train itself. If you can’t find a bin on your train or at the station, take your trash and dispose of it elsewhere. In many places, littering is an offense punishable by a fine.