I AM learning to drive at the moment but until I do pass my test, which will hopefully be within the next six weeks, I will have to continue to travel by train – and I am beginning to really despise it! It isn t necessarily the fault of the train company,

I AM learning to drive at the moment but until I do pass my test, which will hopefully be within the next six weeks, I will have to continue to travel by train - and I am beginning to really despise it!

It isn't necessarily the fault of the train company, though automated apologies for delayed trains really lacks professional customer care in my humble but paying-customer's opinion.

Nor is it the fault of the employee on Hitchin station who the other day shouted "don't all just stand there like sheep" to his customers as their train pulled in.

(Congratulations, by the way, to the man who shouted "these are your customers that you're talking too" back at him. Well done!)

Although I had sympathy with my fellow travellers on this one occasion, it cannot be said that I enjoy the company of each and every one of them all of the time.

On numerous occasions last week I had to sit opposite coughing and spluttering commuters whose grasp of manners - in this case putting their hand over their mouth - was as loose as their buttons on their tightly-fitting shirts.

Also last week I had my feet trodden on twice by commuters racing to get that oh so valuable empty seat - and I didn't even receive an apology for the footprint they left on my size 9s.

The worst incidents - the absolute worst - come when you get those maniacal people with sweaty foreheads barging their way down the stairs in the hope of getting on the train before it departs.

These people push others out of the way, grunt and snort without so much of an excuse me and each time I see one I think to myself that I hope they miss their train. It'll serve them right.

I know when I pass my driving test I will be beset with another host of problems, for example those people who do not know how to use their indicators (or know how to use them and just cannot be bothered).

As a pedestrian this is really irritating so I bet it is worse for other drivers.

I suppose the fact remains that no matter which mode of transport I use there are always going to be plenty of people out there who really irritate me.