7 things passengers should never do on a train, according to an etiquette coach

• Inconsiderate passengers can make traveling an especially stressful experience.
• Etiquette expert William Hanson shared seven things travelers should never do on trains.
• Hanson said travelers should avoid talking on speakerphone and placing their bags on seats.

Be careful not to play your music too loudly in your headphones.

“If you do see some hesitancy and there are many other empty seats to go and sit in that are not reserved, you’re going to move,” he said.

He added that context in these situations is important, too. If the dog owner is the second to arrive, it would be their responsibility to move; but if the dog owner is already seated and someone new comes along, it would be their choice to sit or go elsewhere.

The simplest advice? “Talk and be reasonable,” Hanson said. “We as humans, we mood match. So, if you go in all guns blazing, then you’re going to get a similar reaction back.”

And finally, try to let people off the train before you board.

This tip doesn’t need much explanation, and yet it remains a common nuisance for travelers, commuters, and locals alike.

“There will be more room for people when you get on if the people have come off the train first,” Hanson said.

He added, “If you’re standing by the doors anyway, you can get on, and there’s often a beep or a signal before those doors close. So everyone just needs to just remember: It will be fine.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in September 2024, and most recently updated in October 2026.