I've spent over 2 decades riding trains all over the US. I wish passengers would stop doing these 7 things.

• I've been riding trains across the US for 26 years, and it's one of my favorite ways to travel.
• After hundreds of trips, I have a running list of some of the worst tendencies passengers can have.
• Bringing too much luggage or taking up more than your fair share of space is annoying.

Train travel can be an adventure.

Whizzing by different terrain and meeting new people are all part of the trip. But it can also be chaotic, especially if other riders are doing things that irritate you.

After 26 years of riding trains up and down both US coasts and across the Midwest, here are seven things I wish passengers would stop doing.

Talking your seat partner's ear off

As is the case on most public transportation, you risk encountering talkative seatmates on trains.

I don't usually mind having brief conversations with people near me — it's a shared experience after all. But not everyone wants to be social.

Forcing someone into conversation for a multihour train ride can be exhausting, especially since many people take train rides as a more leisurely and relaxing travel option.

If you connect and happen to enjoy the chat, go for it. But consent from both parties is key.

Bringing too much luggage

Similar to air travel, trains have limited space in front of the seats and in the overhead bins. Try to stick to your fair share of luggage, or plan in advance to check it when you board.

On Amtrak, most reservations allow you to bring one bag and two carry-on items. You may be able to bring more if you book a private car or upgrade your ticket.

People are getting on and off at every stop, so even if your train car looks empty when you board, you should still be mindful of how much space you're taking up.

Spreading your things out across a row of seats

Speaking of taking up too much space, spreading all your things across a row or more of seats is annoying for fellow passengers.

Because there isn't much extra space, I wish people were more mindful about taking too many seats, blocking the middle aisle, and knocking into the people around them when they need to unpack something or resituate their luggage.

This also goes for lying down across multiple seats. If you need to stretch out, go to the café car or observation space, where there's usually a little more room to move around.

Leaving trash and spills for others to clean

A lot of people think they don't have to clean up after themselves on trains and planes.

It's especially annoying because there are trash receptacles throughout the train, making it easy to organize your space as you go. I usually find them near stairwells, in restrooms, in the dining car, or at the end of the passenger cars.

Your trash is your responsibility — the same goes for anything you spill during the trip.

Trapping people on the stairs or between cars

Don't stand in the way of people in the space between cars or on the narrow, sometimes winding, stairwells.

Space is limited, and if you trap someone for too long, they may start to feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

It's sometimes unavoidable to momentarily block people as they get on and off the train, but otherwise, be mindful and stay aware of your surroundings.

Watching a video or listening to music without earbuds

If you want to avoid irritating everyone around you, reduce your noise pollution.

You might be fascinated by the cooking video you found on YouTube, but the rest of the passengers probably aren't. And no matter how amazing your taste in music is, use headphones while on the train.

This also goes for taking phone calls — no one wants to hear your whole conversation on speakerphone.

Taking your shoes off

When you're in a public place that's not a pool or spa, taking your shoes off probably won't elicit pleasant reaction.

This is especially true when you're trapped in what's essentially a metal tube for hours.

Keep your shoes on to avoid bothering your fellow train riders. I personally wouldn't want my feet touching the floor of a train anyway.

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