Quotes from Tube driver

1. “Mind the doors means mind the doors” – This one came from a angry lady driver. She was probably done for the day and just stretching till the last station using every bit of her energy and patience. After repeated warnings, people were still obstructing the door and finally she lost her cool and may be the tube etiquette.

2. “Not my day. Again a fault in the train” – This guy was a rather jolly and fun loving driver. He seemed to take it easy. The trains halted thrice before I could reach Greenford and the third time he made this statement. It made me feel nice because he was associating himself as part of us(sitting in the train) and felt equal frustration. I wish he could take some crash courses for other tube drivers.

3. “Thank you for obstructing the doors and causing the delay” – This guy had a rather sarcastic touch to his verbal skills. On Oxford Circus, it often gets too packed with people and doors have to literally struggle to close. After two futile attempts to close, the driver managed to close the door however in the first set of doors in our compartment a guy just rushed in and got his bags stuck in doors. Thus came the comment from driver. It sounded more grave than it appears here.

4. “Keep cool. I know it’s hot and uneasy. Keep a bottle....” – This lady reminded me of my mother. I have come far from home to work and build career. It was about 40 degrees in the tube. Terrible summer. We left white city, and entered the tunnel. Suddenly a very pleasant and concerned voice came from the speakers. The lady just spoke as if she was taking her own family in the train for a ride. She spoke for about 5 minutes suggesting various means to keep better inside the tube in the hot summer. I felt relieved just by hearing that announcement. Wish we had only lady drivers like her specially in the evening trains whilst heading home.

5. Loud ear deafening announcements. These do come every often. Once, the drivers blasted on the microphone but it was too loud to make anything out of it. I had absolutely no idea what he was saying. Not even sure if it was he or she. So loud! I’m sure many of you have noticed this. Why do these guys need to shout so hard in the speaker? Others, like the lady above seem to have no issues and cane speak so beautifully. I heard this and although was holding a book in one and bag in other, had to put my bag down and close my ears. Imagine if this was a security or an emergency announcement.

6. “Although the trains terminate on the next station, get down here if you are going forward otherwise you will have to climb the stairs to the other side of the platform” ­– Now this seems like a perfect gentleman. He knew that many people that the first take available and then get down on the last station to wait for the next station to continue their onward journey. But usually, when trains terminate early, they are put on a separate platform. The White City tube terminates on platform 3 while tube going further down come on 4. These platforms are on different sides so anyone getting down on White City would have to take the stairs to get to the other side. This nice bloke announced that we need to get down at Shepherd Bush if we want to avoid climbing stairs. Cheers to him...

Make up is in the air

I have been noticing this for last many months but thought to put this on my blog for a light hearted humor.

I boarded from Greenford and got a seat just next to glass(the first seat in the row). Right opposite me there was a lady sitting with her flashy Gucci bag. She must be in her thirties, little did I know that by the time train gets to Oxford Circus, I wouldn’t be able to gauge her age as accurately as I am able to, at the moment, in Greenford.

After a couple of stations, she opened her time machine - I mean her makeup box. She pulled out some brush. Sorry I am not very good with their tools and terminology. But basically, she started a full face rejuvenation process. First her skin texture became a bit tanned and shinny. Next, another shade was applied on top of what she applied first. Then lipsticks rouse from her purse and did the usual lip highlighting. Next, the eyes were treated and guess what – as I was looking(staring to be honest) within minutes, she reminded me of a reverse version of movie “Thirteen going Thirty”. After all that I witness, I must appreciate one thing – her boldness and confidence.

Arguably, she wasn’t the most beautiful women I ever saw or would see, but one thing was sure. She couldn’t care less of surrounding. She didn’t bother what others would make out of this 15 minutes tube performance.....

Can i grab that newspaper please?

How many of you have experienced this. You are seating and behind you and the window glass lies a London Metro or London paper or London Lite. You have your copy, so are you busy reading, it trying to remain oblivious to the crowding and crushing around you.

Suddenly, a long he/she hand approaching your face and then takes left or right turn just missing your ear. Now most of the travellers are courteous and then normally say "Can i have that paper please" but some are really nasty. They just grab it and start reading as if they are trying to honour your reading and not wanting to disturb you but eventually they do more harm then good.

I had this lady who ran and got in the tube just second before door close and may be due to being out of breath or whatever, she just grabbed the paper behind me without a word of excuse or please. Not sure if this is rude but she was definitely attacking some my private space, on the other hand, requesting it would be a better approach, i think.
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A terrifying experience

This happened about nine months ago but i didn't have a blog then, so posting it now...

I am a bit lazy on answering mother natures calls when i am rushing to work and already getting late. That day was the height of my patience and tolerance.

I was then travelling in Piccadilly line everyday to work. I boarded from Alperton station in the east bound tube. I was already feeling a bit of pressure to go to the toilet but i thought i would do the job at Piccadilly station. The train was moving as usual. We passed Acton town station. After this station, Piccadilly line skips about three stations and therefore picks up a good speed once it leaves Acton town. I was reading the ads in tube and looking at people's faces when suddenly there was a big jerk and a big sound. For some reason, no one seem bothered with only some eyebrows raised. Then there was a second bang underneath which really caught everyone's attention and before anyone could guess whats going on..........bang bang! Third bang - this almost made all the kids and girls scream in the tube. I was terrified and the tube was moving too much, more than usual. Suddenly the driver started applying brakes, as hard as he could. No one could guage what was going on. Were were all heading an accident? Will we all die? What's going happen next? and finally(thank God) the train stopped. It was half in the tunnel and half outside.

None of us know what happened and then the driver moved in. He explained that the brakes system malfunctioned and the trained could have derailed if it wouldn't have stopped so quickly as it did. We then realised how close we were to disaster. Then the drivers tried to pacify us saying the danger is over now that the train has stopped. But then another thing suddenly ran through my mind........

What about my pee? I had to pee and its now getting increasingly difficult. It takes 34 mins to reach Piccadilly station and now were already 40 mins in tube so my original judgement was already off by 6 mintues and still another half an hour before i could see myself standing at the door of the toilet. It was getting more and more painful and i approached the driver in a very humble voice. I said i had to get down now! He thought i was still terrified due to the tube brakes failure, little did he know that I had bigger things to worry now!

Finally, another train came from behind and pushed our train to Hammersmith station where we all got down. Except me, everyone else seemed very pleased and relaxed. I could barely walk now and i was told that the toilets were upstairs. I prayed and then started my march up the floor. And that was wasn't enough, the toilets there, unlike Piccadilly station were not free so i paid to pee.

That's it, what an experience in the tube.

Its summer, hay fever is around...

This is more of a general thing. I had this person sitting next to me today in tube, sneezing continuously. I am quite sure he wouldn't want to do it if given a choice and wouldn't want to discomfort his fellow passengers. But the poor fellow was helpless. I think it was hay fever that was haunting him and with his eyes very red, nose very busy and his face almost constantly covered with tissue.

What i noticed is that while he was struggling with himself, the passengers around him, especially some beauty pageants were giving a very strange and disgusting looks. I felt very much compassionate for that chap because there was hardly anything he could do. He actually got up from his seat and went near the door to cause less hassle to others but still these 'freaks' kept looking at him as if he was a terrorist or someone from a another planet.

Just wanted to ask my readers, is this fair? That poor fellow cannot afford the congestion charge and heavy parking fees to bring his car to central London, if he had one. So what else he could do. He can't ask his boss to allow him to travel after peak hours. He was doing his best to cover himself and cause as less hassle as possible to people around him, but we must realise that the looks we give him in that troubled state is going to give him more pain then his actual hay fever.

So guys, next time you find someone suffering like this, please don't at least given him a frown or bad look unless he is behaving irresponsibly.

Mind the closing doors...

This happened some time ago but i thought to share....

When they announce this famous statement "Mind the closing doors..." i think it applies to both passengers boarding in as well as leaving the train. But some people just don't get it right.

The trains arrived on White City(Central Line station) and doors opened. All passengers are obviously expected to leave the train when door open and not wait till the last moment. This young girl couldn't be bothered. She kept reading her newspaper and looked like she wanted to finish it quickly before leaving the train rather that taking the newspaper with her. Just when the announcement came, she ran out of the train. And quite expectedly, her purse couldn't get through. So here she was, standing on the platform with her purse caught in between door.

For some unknown reason, she just believed that the trains operators are there to just serve her only. So he expected the door would open again and release her purse. But of course, the train started moving! Now i am not sure how much attached the girls are to their purses, but this girl was really not going to give it up. She started to pull harder and started running with the train!!! Passenger around her started giving shocked and surprised looks. But she kept running until the train was too fast for her to keep up. Finally she let the purse remain in the train to be collected at the next station.

So, lets understand that we all must mind the closing doors and not let the closing doors mind our belongings....

Oops, my phone' s ringing but at wrong time

I am writing this post just to express my apology to my fellow passengers today because i was not bold enough to speak to them and apologise.

I was in my Eastbound Central line travelling to work. Normally, the tube enters tunnel about 10 minutes after i board from my station(so no mobiles work after 10 mins) but this time due to signal failures there were some delay. And guess what...my phone rang! Now i was wearing a tight fit trouser and my phone was in my right pocket of my trouser. First, i just tried in a very polite and descent manner to reach for my phone and take it out. But my tight trouser didn't even allow the tips of my finger to get into the pocket. Next, i just moved a bit forward and tried, no good. I tried straightening my legs causing a bit of discomfort to fellows sitting on opposite seats but still no joy!! And all this was happening very fast because my phone would go into voice mail after 8 rings. Finally i had to stand up in that crowded carriage, making all other standing and sitting around me a bit annoyed. I just made a sorry face and took the call.

That wasn't enough. The summer is really gearing up and i forgot to remove my coat before entering the train. Now, this was another mess. I went through all the steps mentioned above and finally stood up again with a sad face and removed my jacket. But wait, my tissues were in left pocket of my trouser and i forgot to take that out while removing jacket. My nose started running(really at the wrong time!) and i had to stand again.

I just wish i had organised myself better before boarding. I am sure this is a common thing that could be happening to many passenger on the tube. If we do our bit, the tube travel could become a more comfortable experience for everyone. Cheers....