EVER since the arrival on the cross-city line of the onboard TV, the Quiet Zone section of the carriages has proved popular with commuters.
Not only does it alow them to get away from the rolling, repetitive and often out of date programming, but it also offers them the option of escaping into a good book or completing that crossword in relative peace.
The signage urges passengers to refrain from using sound equipment and mobile phones in the area and it says 'Quiet Zone' in bold letters - so why do people ignore it?
In one week alone, OK Commuter's cross-city line spies have complained of mobile phone calls, music being played from mobile phones and parents deciding that this might be the place to seat their hyperactive toddler.
The problem is that this section of the carriages have become somewhat self-policing, with ticket inspectors not acting on problems of noisy travellers. Arguments between passengers over noise in the Quiet Zone have become a growing trend which is close to becoming rail rage.
Surely it isn't too much to ask that those wishing to make a phone call could do it ten yards further down the carriage and leave those who've made the decision to take a peaceful journey to do just that?
In the same way that feet on seats is frowned upon, so should excessive noise which spoils the journey for other passengers.