Letting The Train Take The Strain

(Whoever invented that slogan should be shot at dawn)

On the west coast high speed train,

noisy travellers, what a pain.

Not an empty seat in sight,

carriages are cramped and tight.

Crunching crisps sound in my ear,

that chap beside me far too near.

To top it all the train's delayed,

by now my nerves are feeling frayed.

Apologies the food's all gone,

no sandwiches, so run along

and sit their adding up the cost,

your pockets drained, you've suffered loss.

You've left your car at home today,

next time you say "No bloody way".

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I've only taken public transportation for fun, when visiting cities & avoiding traffic. I remember one long train ride from the San Francisco Bay Area up to the Sierra Mountains near Lake Tahoe . . . it was a Friday night party train. Nothing like the commuter train in your poem. I would go crazy in that situation & your poem gave me the creeps, good & proper! *smile* Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

I had the misfortune Margie, of getting a train to Torquay from where I live. A journey which should have taken 2 hours and took 3 and a half. Cost a bomb and the service was awful. Thank you for your response.

Fondest

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reminds me somewhat of the subway in NY....
crowded, uncomfortable...but the nostalgia of having taken it when a kid...wouldn't give that up.

i had fun reading this one...related and felt frustrated that the food was all gone.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jacob. Yes, no food made the whole experience worse. It was a long journey.

Chris

[Dave]

As a child I loved trains. My grandparents lived within blocks of the train station. I would plead with my grandfather to take me to see the huge steam engines. BUT!! A couple of summers ago, my daughter knowing my love of trains had me take my grandson from Raleigh,N.C. to Washington,D.C. by train. O.M.G.!! Turns out I could have driven us there in much less time and nowhere's near the aggravation we experienced. Seems the rails were used primarily for freight and they had the "right of way" over passenger trains.

[Chris Shaw]

You've got it over the pond as well? I'm surprised by that Dave, I thought it was a UK thing. Well I never. Thanks for checking this one out. All good wishes.

Chris

[Jon Roggie]

This reminds me of my time in Germany. The train trips were interesting. The trip from Koln to West Berlin was fun. Raises your eyebrows watching the guards walking through. Dogs outside the train add to the fun. My fellow travelers prepared for the trip back to the West. Large bottle of wine almost made it all the way to Hamburg!

[Chris Shaw]

That's where I went wrong Jon. A large bottle of vino may well have helped. Thanks for checking this one out.

Chris.

[Lorry]

Oh! I was expecting this to be longer Christine, to fit in all the things they do wrong. :)
But I am happy to help...
First off...dont call it a refreshment trolley if the price of a cuppa will give you a heart attack.
Secondly...dont have a bloody refreshment trolley going up and down the aisles that are already full of cheesed off people that pay full price and dont get a seat.
Thirdly, never go farther than peterborough, as every time I have tried, the service invariably gets cancelled there.
Lastly, if you ever meet Richard Branson, kick his face off his head :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Lorry. Some useful add ons. Train travel these days is nothing short of misery. At least I don't have to commute anymore.

Chris

[Lorry]

All those people trying to get work at nine in the morning is only asking for trouble.
Solution...Half start at nine one week, then ten the next week. Problem solved, and a seat too :)

[angel]

BRAVA, Christine! This is a really good one! Perfectly execuyed!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear angel. Pleased you enjoyed the ride.

Chris

[Beccy]

Haven't been on a train for a while now. A while back now, I used to use the tube regularly and hated it. I was always irrationally scared of being pushed onto the lines, or getting into a carriage and becoming trapped.

From the news, it seems to be getting worse and worse and I really do feel for the people who have no choice in the matter. Impeccable rhythm and rhyme here Christine.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Beccy. I rarely use inter city trains, but when I do the experience is not usually a happy one. Never liked the tube much either. Too much like sardines. Thanks for checking this one out.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Ha! An unqualified ordeal.
Most entertaining!

[Chris Shaw]

An ordeal it was Jimmy. No doubt about it. Thanks for checking this one out. Appreciated.
read moreAn ordeal it was Jimmy. No doubt about it. Thanks for checking this one out. Appreciated.

Chris

[Relic]

The type of train you describe is not meant for fun, that's for sure. ha Your details convey how hard it is to be a commuter on a public train at busy hours. I recall friends complaining about their train and bus rides and the horror that ensued. Not for me!

Nice one, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Just a little rant about a horribly long journey. Thank you.

Chris

[Carolynn]

I can really relate to this Christine - I used to take the train into the City years back and it was so crowded and noisy - much prefer to drive myself :)

[Chris Shaw]

Drivers won't stay off the roads until public transport works. No chance of that :) Thank you Carolynn.