A train trip to remember

Sitting in his seat and humming on the rhythmic tone of the running train Brian couldn’t have asked for any better feeling. One could probably sleep here for eternity without worrying about a thing, he wondered. Then his thoughts drifted with the moving train. “Tickets are so expensive”, Brian thought as he looked at his tickets. ‘Time is of essence’, ‘Don’t waste your time’ were probably the statements from people who never travelled by train, he thought. He had bought the cheapest ticket to reach Liverpool from Milton Keynes. Although travelling time was longer it was still manageable in his schedule and ticket price was less than half of peak hour tickets.

Brian was lost in thought when the announcement was made that the next station is Crewe. My stop, he mumbled and started collecting his belongings. He looked outside through the window to feel the weather. It was dark at 10:00 PM, nothing unusual for the end of november weather. Probably 10 minutes wait for the next train at Crewe if the train is on the right time, Brian wondered. I could wait on the platform, he thought as he walked towards the door but the train lurched to change the track to go on the platform. He almost tripped on a luggage kept near the door but got hold of support just in time to prevent his fall. He silently smiled at his smartness.

When the train finally stopped at Crewe and Brian got down, it was 10:05 PM. A gush of chilly wind passed through him. He changed the idea of waiting on the platform and looked around for the signboard for the waiting room. It took him awhile to find it and it indicated that the waiting room is on the next platform. Walking in the cold he wrapped his jacket around and moved towards the stairs in majored steps. Waiting room was not very difficult to find and he saw it as he got down from the stairs. 

Only habitable place on the train station at this time of hour, he thought as all the shops were closed. It was not very busy inside and he managed to find a comfortable corner where he could keep an eye on the display board as well as the door. He was barely in his seat when the announcement was made that the train going to Liverpool was running 30 minutes late and would arrive at 10:45 PM. It was a good decision that I came to the waiting room, Brian chuckled as he did a quick calculation that he should be at home by 12:00 AM. I could still have a good night's sleep before the meeting in the morning, he told himself.

He quickly glanced over to find a cup of coffee to keep him warm and awake. The coffee vending machine was in a corner. A little anxious for the warmth to get rid of the chilled feeling he had, he walked over. His desires took a hit when he found that the machine was broken. A bit sad he went back and sank in his chair with a jacket all around like a plant sapling. He checked the time there was still 35 minutes to go. 

Some time passed but a sudden noise around a table where kids were crying to stand on the table broke his ritualistic checking of the time and display board every few minutes. Thank god adults are responsible, he murmured. It was not much later that a couple started arguing in another corner. It is so chilly that I can’t even wait outside, he grumbled. Annoyed at the situation and all the noise, he just wished if he could get a cup of coffee. When things became a bit quieter he was relaxed but this time the smell of freshly brewed coffee distracted him. He spun his head around and saw someone entering the room with a take away coffee from outside. He felt teased. I could probably get one, he thought and looked at the display board to check the time of the train. There were only 10 minutes left for his train. He also noticed that other trains after his were cancelled. It would be risky he thought as he craved for coffee. He did throw glances towards the take away coffee mug as stealing a sip or two to keep himself warm. 

Only two minutes had left in the train's arrival and no announcement had been made yet. His head wondered if his train had been cancelled but his heart argued against it. The argument didn’t last very long as a new announcement could be heard over the speaker that the train to Liverpool had been cancelled due to some technical difficulty and a bus had been arranged for passengers, for more information please contact the information desk. It was the last train, he grumbled as he collected his belongings to go and get more information about the bus. There was a long queue by the time he reached the information desk. Everyone was restless. Brian felt almost frozen when he finally reached the counter waiting for his turn, he was not ready for such eventualities.

“When would the bus reach Liverpool”, he asked while rubbing his hand. The person behind the counter replied, “Probably in 4 hours”. “Why that long”, was Brian’s next question. “We have to accommodate passengers from other trains as well so there would be more stops. I hope you understand that we have responsibility towards all the passengers.”, the person replied in a monochromatic tone.

Brian moved away as the next person in the queue moved forward to enquire. No one was happy as could be heard from general murmur but then there were not many options left at this time of the day. He stood there waiting. It was another 30 minutes before the bus came and all the passengers were accommodated. And another 15 minutes before the bus moved. Time was 11:45 PM. 

The humming of the bus was not pleasant. Brian was uncomfortable and restless, he couldn’t even take a nap. I would be late for meetings, he exhaled. People don’t understand that ‘time is priceless’ were his thoughts as he waited to reach his destination.