Travelling on a train at peak times can be a stressful process, and we all know how annoying it can be when you've paid good money for your journey but the train is just too full for you to even have a seat.
But one mum has been left furious after boarding a "busy train to London" and finding there was a seat available - as the woman who was using it for her bags refused to move them to let the mum sit down.
Posting on Mumsnet, the mum explained there were "no other seats nearby" so she politely asked the woman to move her bags, but was told no.
However, the post has split opinions online, as the woman was wearing a face mask and told the mum she couldn't have the spare seat because she "needed to distance".
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In her post, the mum wrote: "Travelling on a busy train to London, a lady wearing a mask was sitting on a window seat with her bags next to her on the aisle seat. No other seats are available nearby.
"I asked her politely 'excuse me please' indicating that I wanted to sit there. She mumbled 'sorry no I need to distance'.
"Surely if you're that worried about Covid don't travel on public transport at busy times?"
And while some commenters were unsympathetic toward the woman, others noted she may have tested positive for Covid-19 herself and was trying to avoid spreading it to other people.
One person said: "She doesn’t need to distance, she wants a seat for her bags. Just move them onto the floor and sit down."
While another added: "It doesn't matter why she needs distance, being vulnerable doesn't entitle anyone to two seats. She can stand by the door or catch a quieter train."
But someone else disagreed, stating: "It would be completely unmanageable if everyone did it, but I'd give her the benefit of the doubt as a one-off. Sometimes you have no choice but to take public transport - all sorts of reasons why she might have to travel while minimising exposure."
"I also think she knows she has Covid and is trying not to infect other people," a fourth said, "not everyone is an a***hole."
In fact, another poster also stated they had done the same thing on a recent train journey, as they had tested positive but had no choice but to travel by train because of their responsibilities as a carer.
They said: "I did this last week. I was on day 7 of having covid and was still testing faintly positive, but I had to get the train (caring responsibilities and I can't drive). I put a bag on the seat next to me because I wanted to avoid infecting anyone."
But other commenters were still unsympathetic, with many stating she should have been the one to stand up away from other people.
One said: "If that's the case, she is the one who should be standing, not inconveniencing someone else."
Others who defended the woman also pointed out she could have been particularly vulnerable to Covid and therefore wanted to avoid contact with others - having no choice but to travel at peak times.
Someone wrote: "Were you wearing a mask? If not, I don't think it's unreasonable for her to not want you to sit there breathing over her. The pandemic is not over. It is not reasonable or kind to expose other people to Covid because you don't want to wear a mask.
"If a vulnerable person wants to stay safe, they should just not get a train?"
As someone else agreed, stating: "You do realise some people are at serious risk of severe illness or death due to Covid and yet still need to travel to things like hospital appointments. Find a seat that’s not nearby and feel thankful covid is not such a big deal to you."
Travelling by train amid Covid-19
According to Network Rail, the guidance for travelling by train in England still suggests you should wear a face covering if you can as "a courtesy to others".
However, the website also states you should "avoid travelling if you feel unwell or have symptoms of Coronavirus ".
In Scotland, you must by law wear a face covering on public transport unless you are exempt.
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