From mackerel to boiled eggs: The top 20 foods that should NEVER be eaten on a train revealed

The 20 foods that should never be eaten on a train have been revealed – and smoked mackerel tops the ranking.

In a survey that determines ‘the least appealing foods to be eaten on a train’, smoked mackerel receives 49 per cent of the vote, boiled eggs comes second with 43 per cent and curry third with 41 per cent.

Fourth is egg sandwiches (36 per cent), while 35 per cent say blue cheese (fifth) should never be eaten on the rails.

Smoked mackerel isn’t the only unpopular fish dish to tuck into mid-journey – crab sticks (joint sixth, 34 per cent), tuna pasta (joint seventh, 33 per cent), prawns (joint seventh, 33 per cent), tuna sandwiches (eighth, 31 per cent) and sushi (ninth, 24 per cent) are also frowned upon as snack choices when riding the rails.

The poll of 2,000 Britons by Trainline also reveals that a kebab (joint sixth, 34 per cent), gherkins from a jar (joint seventh, 33 per cent), a burrito (joint seventh, 33 per cent) and fried chicken (12th, 20 per cent) are foods best avoided for train journeys.

Smell hell: The 20 foods that should never be eaten on a train have been revealed – and smoked mackerel tops the ranking

If you’re looking for something quick on the go, you might want to reconsider feasting on a Pot Noodle (23 per cent), pickled-onion-flavoured Monster Munch (22 per cent) or fast food from McDonald’s or Burger King (18 per cent), which rank 10th, 11th and joint 14th respectively.

The rest of the top 20 is comprised of bananas and samosas – which are joint 13th with 19 per cent – and ‘any leftover meals’, which rank joint 14th with 18 per cent.

At the other end of the spectrum, chocolate bars (69 per cent) and soft sweets (63 per cent) have been voted the least offensive snacks to tuck into on a train.

In a survey of ‘the least appealing foods to be eaten on a train’, boiled eggs comes second with 43 per cent of the vote 

Thirty-five per cent of those surveyed say blue cheese (fifth) should never be eaten on the rails

Over a third (38 per cent), however, agree that they’d be happy for people to eat on trains as long as the food wasn’t odorous. Forty-nine per cent, meanwhile, say that snacking on a train is tolerable so long as the seats both in front and behind you are empty.

Elsewhere in the study, Trainline found that over half (53 per cent) of those surveyed think eating is the best way to make the most of their time on the train. 

During longer journeys, it appears that train picnics are on the rise, as nearly one in two people (45 per cent) admit to taking a full picnic spread when embarking on a long train trip.

On-train picnics are particularly popular when travelling for a weekend away (35 per cent), while 17 per cent will ensure they always board the train with plenty of food to eat when going on a stag or hen do. Some even admit to bringing along a sushi platter for the trip, and one respondent always packs prosecco and posh picnic bites when heading for Royal Ascot.

Thirty-six per cent, meanwhile, enjoy a tipple to help them relax into their journey, with a majority (57 per cent) believing it’s perfectly acceptable to crack open a ‘gin in a tin’ on a train.

Outside of snacking, listening to music (66 per cent) tops the list for ways to make a train journey more relaxing, followed by getting lost in a book (45 per cent) and watching a film (29 per cent).

Trainline has partnered with Goodrays to release ‘Choo Chews’, a series of CBD-based gummies tailored for train travellers

The ‘Choo Chews’ gummies are being given away for free to passengers aged over 18 via a pop-up vending machine in London’s King’s Cross Station

Coinciding with the study, Trainline has partnered with drinks distributor Goodrays to release ‘Choo Chews’, a series of CBD-based gummies tailored for train travellers heading off on their holidays.

The fruity gummies are being given away for free to passengers aged over 18 via a pop-up vending machine in London’s King’s Cross Station.

Commenting on the research, Mike Hyde, Chief Data Officer for Trainline, said: ‘As our research revealed, a tasty snack and a train journey do go hand in hand, although some foods really shouldn’t be eaten while on the move, especially when other people are around. We know that many passengers choose to snack on a train journey as a way to unwind and relax – which inspired us to launch our limited-edition CBD gummies Choo Chews, providing our customers with the chance to sit back and enjoy their journey.’

Train travellers can pick up the Choo Chews from King’s Cross Station on May 18 and May 19 between 9.30am and 4.30pm, or whilst stocks last.