Everyday train

Last train

Patrick — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:24:57 +0000

On the train today, I made a sad decision. After almost 3 months and 43 posts, this is the last. And it’s not because there are no more stories to tell. There’s always something going on on the everyday train. But I am losing my tracks, my muse. And I’d rather explicitly end it now than leave it dragging like a slow lost train. It’s a hard sad decision. Thank you all for reading and your feedback. It was really good while it lasted. I will miss it.

Train doors closing, please stand clear.

p.s. if you have a commuter story that you would like to share on this blog please do so here.

p.s. if any other everyday commuter out there would like to take over this blog I’ll be glad to pass it on.

Lights on

Patrick — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:09:52 +0000

On the train today, well at the station, the speaker announced that car with registration number col238 left their lights on. How nice of the person who reported it to the station in the first place? I wish there was such a nice person the times I left my lights on. Would have saved me so much hassle!

Tricks of the train #2

Patrick — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:11:43 +0000

On the train today, you get a better seat if you wait in the right spot on the platform, that is where the train doors will open. Some people think that it is purely luck. But it is not for the skilled everyday commuter.

First of all you need to know the station. Trains roughly stop in the same spot within a station. So you just need to remember where the doors usually open. It helps the memory to have a place mark like a pole, a sign or a bench along the platform.

The other main factor is the type of train/carriages. Doors are positioned differently on the various makes. So keep an eye on the train while it’s approaching and learn to recognise the type. While you’re looking, also note its speed. Slower approaching trains tend to stop a bit earlier. So the quicker you are at judging the type of train and its speed, the more time you have to adjust your position on the platform. Caution, please stand behind the yellow line!

Finally, keep an eye on your competitors. You can tell how skilled they are by their movements. If you are in an unfamiliar station, your best bet is to spot an expert and stand behind him.

The doors opening exactly in front of me

Once you have mastered these techniques, you will start enjoying that rewarding feeling of train doors opening exactly in front of you while other commuters scrum and scuffle enviously around you.

The aliens are here

Patrick — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:34:10 +0000

On the train today, I was thinking about something I saw in the news last night. This guy in turkey who has been filming these objects flying in the sky. He says he has 2 1/2 hours of footage. You can see a summary video online. It looks impressively real. And there are supposedly plenty of witnesses too. Everything is going to be published tomorrow in some journal. Now this is either the biggest revelation of the century or the biggest UFO hoax ever, probably the latter. This link takes to google news search for UFO + Turkey.

Poor exhausted man

Patrick — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:13:01 +0000

On the train today, a construction man was exhausted. It’s a good enough reason to hog two 3-seaters and rest his dirty construction boots on the seat. The commuters who have to stand up and those who will eventually dirty their pants when they sit there will surely understand that it’s perfectly acceptable.

Dirty construction boots on seat

After all, the sign did read “place feet on seats”

Vandalised sign that now reads "place feet on seats"

Latest scores

Patrick — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:59:04 +0000

On the train today, this guy sitting on my seat was watching a live european soccer game on his mobile phone and ear phones. You could tell from his facial expressions that his team must have been suffering at the end but finally won the game as he let go an audible cheer. The final score: Juventus 2, Real Madrid 1.

Not my day

Patrick — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:54:51 +0000

On the train today, rush cost me more. See, I pay my weekly ticket on Tuesdays. I insert the expired ticket into the machine; then I insert the money into the machine; then the machine gives me a new ticket. Blind folded routine.

Today the machine asked me for a few more dollars. I thought what the? But the train was already on the platform. So I grab a few more coins and chuck them in the machine, vaguely remembering that I had read something about a fare rise. To my surprise, two tickets come out of the machine. I figure out the person before me left a pending sale. The machine did not make it obvious to me, and I wasn’t thinking. I was barely looking at the machine. I was only rushed on catching the train. So I run down the stairs, while the train doors were closing.

Stupid ticket machine!

I missed my train, wasted some money, and to top it all the person now sitting next to me stinks. I should have stayed in bed. Not my day.

Bug on a train

Patrick — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:42:57 +0000

On the train today, there was a commuter of a different sort. This peculiar black-and-gold insect was holding on to the ceiling.

Black and gold insect on the train

I bet you he did not pay his fare, bugger!

Space wars

Patrick — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:27:02 +0000

On the train today, I fought for my space. I sat on the only available seat. It was a 2 seater and the guy already sitting down possessed it like a king’s throne, legs widely spread. So I squeezed and sat down and he didn’t move a hair, faking he was asleep. But I had to fight for my space, without starting a fight.

Before: Seat split 75:25

So millimetre by millimetre I slowly gained back space, taking advantage of every tiniest train jolt to push into my territory. After over 15 minutes of budging…

After: Seat Split 50:50

Victory! I claimed my equal share of the seat.

Thirsty good man

Patrick — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:37:28 +0000

On the train today, a good man was thirsty for alcohol. But the good man did not want to break the law. So he changed the law. The good man made it legal to drink alcohol on trains. Cheers good man! But fines still apply.

Vandalised sticker reading Alcohol permitted