Trains Of Sardines

They fill the trains with fish here!

No, not really…Yeah…they do…

There are no trains full of fish…nod yes…NO!…yes…

(Don’t worry if you don’t get this…)

My first few trips on the LUAS were quite enjoyable and I have always loved the concept of the commuter train, as it is much more efficient a system than the bus, having its own movement system, so you aren’t just sitting in traffic in someone else’s vehicle instead of your own. Recently I have had more opportunities to be on the train in the throng of commuter rush hour and, I would have to say, it is slightly less pleasant. Still much, much, much better than a bus (which I will reinforce in a later post) but…I AM NO SARDINE!

Being tightly packed into a train is something that everyone who rides a commuter train during rush hour probably has experienced (I have heard that London is worse than Dublin, and I would guess that New York is the similar), but for me these things are new and interesting (in a tonguing-the-new-cut-on-the-inside-of-your-cheek sort of way). The train during this time is, by no means, a place for someone with a tendency toward claustrophobia. Or, for that matter, any kind of aversion to rubbing up against strangers…

My stop on the train line is the fourth or so stop heading into City Center. The seats (what few there are in comparison to the number of commuters) are completely full by the time I board. There is a good amount of standing space and quite a few poles and bars to get a grip on. The drivers never seem particularly skillful about easing into a start or stop, so the handholds are very necessary. I don’t mind standing. By the next stop after mine, the train is typically full to the brim. Somehow, though, at every consecutive stop after, a few people decide there is room to squeeze in one more. Every once in a while someone will squeeze there way out at a stop and, in the wake of that one person’s passing, four people will slide into the gap that was left.

Pressed against each other, no eye contact is made. Everyone stares out the window (if they can see it) or at the ceiling, or closes their eyes. Hopefully they aren’t talking to friends if they are close to you because likely their breath reeks ode to morning coffee and there’s no way to escape it. 75% of the riders are pod people (they have iPods, or some other form of MP3 playing device). I am one of these. There are loads of people reading newspapers as well. Less when the trains are really packed, but there are always people handing out free newspapers at the train stops and many people have developed the skill to read, holding their paper in one hand, while riding on a packed train. I am not one of these.

There is a definite strategy to how a person must position him or herself when getting on the train as well. If I am going to the end of the line at City Center, I can pack deeper into the car, away from the doors, between the seats, where there is a lot more breathing room. If I need to get off before the end of the line, like I usually do, I must position myself strategically so that I can squeeze my way to the door after the train stops, but before the door closes again. If I get myself too far from the doors, I won’t make it, or I have to start pushing my way out before the train stops, which makes for unstable footing and nothing to hold on to when it does. If I choose a place too close to the door, I constantly am dealing with people coming in and out, and the tightest packing of people occurs right at the door. My personal favorite place is straight across from the door in the standing area where you can lean against a bar or the wall. It is plenty close to get out when it’s time, you are against something, so you can’t be pushed around, and leaning against something makes the standing ride a great deal more pleasant.

So, despite the fact that I like train systems, it won’t break my heart if (when the time comes) I can find a place for us to live that is more in the heart of things and definitely within walking distance of work. That way, the train can be ridden and enjoyed when going shopping at the mall and other such activities that don’t occur at rush hour.