Why do most train passengers pretend to sleep during the journey?

Question

Why do most train passengers pretend to sleep during the journey?

Answer 1

I'd have to ask which train.  America's east coast commuter trains, I find people just climb into their little personal bubble and do everything they can to avoid contact with other people.   It's just the opposite on western long-haul Amtraks, you're guaranteed to get to know all your neighbors!

Answer 2

Because if the train is crowded and an old person comes in you wont have to give your seat up....pretty mean, actually

Answer 3

so they won't have to talk

Answer 4

The rocking of the train and the rhythmic clickity-clack of the rails rocks you to sleep

Answer 5

People are afraid to stare someone in the face the whole ride so they rather not have a confrontation with someone over them staring to much so they sleep or pretend to sleep.

Answer 6

To avoid other train passengers.

Answer 7

A few reasons probably:

1. Because of the forced proximity with other commuters the person is able to create a personal space and not be forced to interact in a situation they are not comfortable in.

2. By pretending to sleep they can hog a whole sleep and not share it with anyone.

3. Pretend to not notice anti social behaviour and be forced to do something responsible like report or intervene.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

so they dont have to answer stupid questions like this one.

Answer 9

Wolf-Har nailed it. Commuter passengers are in their own little bubble and don't want to contact anyone or any thing. The West Coast AMTRAK is just the opposite. By the time you get to Omaha, you know everyone on your car and probably even some in the sleepers.

Answer 10

Passengers on a train sleep for any number of reasons.  Some use their daily trip to gain an extra few minutes sleep, which isn't a bad idea.  Others use at as a means of passing the time.

I've seem people sleep out of boredom, once they've read all the newspapers and don't have anyone to talk to.  Others would rather not talk or interact with their fellow passengers, and that's fine, too.

Occasionally, I've seen people pretend to sleep when they see the constables coming around to check tickets, and they either don't have the ticket, or stayed on for one too many stops (this can be intentional).  The GO Transit special constables, from what I've seen, will actually wake the passenger up, so that idea doesn't work too well.

Answer 11

The most likely reason to be pretending to be asleep usually means they don't have a ticket, or a valid ticket.

Some people do actually sleep on the trains and have done so myself on numerous occasions plug in ya headphones get comfy and away we go.

Answer 12

They are jumping the train and hoping that the guard, or 'Train Manager' as they are now called on Network Rail, won't notice them and demand to see their ticket.