UK Man Shares ‘Awful’ Train Experience In India, Says Fellow Passenger ‘Spit On Him’, Another Kept Foot On His Seat | Video

Foreign travellers often document their journeys across India, showcasing everything from scenic train rides to vibrant cultural moments that go viral. However, for one UK-based vlogger, the experience

was anything but enjoyable. Backpacker Ben, known for sharing his travel adventures on Instagram, recently posted a video recounting a series of uncomfortable incidents during what he described as an “awful” train journey in India.

In the viral clip, the influencer captures a fellow passenger repeatedly placing his foot on Ben’s seat despite several polite requests to stop. “I have asked him a couple of times politely… please don’t do that, and he smiles, and two minutes later he puts his foot back on my chair,” Ben said, visibly frustrated.
“So I’m just going to have to accept it… For the next couple of hours, his foot is going to be there,” he added.

Passenger Spits On Ben’s Arm

As the video proceeds, he gives viewers a brief glimpse of the compartment and a vendor selling cucumbers. Ben claimed the awful situation escalated when another passenger allegedly spat on his arm.

“Some dude just spat on my arm,” Ben claimed. “He was chewing these cucumber things… He looked at me, said something, and it went all on my arm. Big gob of it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Backpacker Ben (@backpacker.ben)

What Are Social Media Users Saying?

Ben’s experience triggered strong reactions across social media. While many users sympathised with him, others argued that the vlogger chose a general, non-AC compartment and should have expected discomfort.

“Bro, if you upgrade to 2nd or 1st class, that will cost you like 5$ more,” read a comment.

A comment read, “Bro books the lowest(cheapest) class possible and expects 5 star facilities.”

Another said, “You get what you pay for. Next time, save some money and travel in better transportation modes.”

“It’s funny that people blame the creator instead of fixing the problem; it’s not about being cheap or expensive. “Cheapest” train in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan isn’t like this. It’s low-key they normalise this behaviour and consider it as part of culture, I guess,” said a user.

An individual stated, “You’re complaining about the local compartment, but you chose it. There are perfectly good AC coaches and standard compartments available. You could’ve spent a little extra and travelled comfortably, but instead you went for the cheapest option just to complain? Interesting strategy.”

“Why not just spend like $5-10, and you can have your own nice space, Haha, just decided to go the cheap option for content so you could complain,” wrote another.

Foreigners’ ‘Stinky’ Kerala Train Experience

Last month, three foreign vloggers, Emma, Ameana and Alex Wanders, captured their uncomfortable journey from Kochi to Varkala in a crowded general coach. The clip, shared on Instagram, shows the trio squeezed among passengers in a packed coach and struggling to find space.

In the caption, Emma explained how they ended up in the situation. “We couldn’t get a seat on the Kochi to Varkala train, so we ended up all squished in… right next to the toilets. The train had come all the way from Delhi, packed to the brim with people and bags, and the smell of sweat hit us the second we got on,” it read.

She also explained that they wanted to book AC seats for themselves, but “the lady at the desk told us to just come today.”

As the video gained traction, the reactions online were largely critical. Many Indian users felt the trio deliberately chose the worst possible conditions to create viral content.