Going Underground

As a London Lover and frequent visitor to the city, I have done my fair share of travelling by train. I have complained when trains are late and moaned at the lack of seats just as much as the next person.  However, this week as a newbie at Wordville, not only have I gained an insight to the world of PR, and perhaps more importantly learnt how the Mayor likes her tea (tea bag flirts with water but the relationship goes no further), I have also seen a new side to the British public on the trains.

Tuesday saw the Olympic test run on London transport in five of the city’s major stations in preparation for - as Boris kindly reminds us at every station in town – “The Big One”. This event went largely unnoticed at Charing Cross, with the only minor difference being the erection of a play pen in the middle of the station. This rather snug area is supposed to house the extra one million visitors to our city.

Those who were unlucky enough to pass through London Bridge on Tuesday would have experienced something different altogether, as exits were blocked off and commuters were herded cattle-like through the only entrance. This exercise, which was minutely dissected by papers and passengers, further angered the already enraged species that is the London commuter.

 Nevertheless, I have found this week that these Londoners- who are always ready to moan about the commute, the extortionate fares, the lack of seats and daily delays- possess an air of camaraderie. Yes it’s true that the majority of Charing Cross bound passengers will sit on the aisle seat and leave what some might consider an excessive amount of space on the escalators, but I have also witnessed acts of kindness amongst commuters – strangers – which have restored my faith in humankind.

As I browsed through the Metro each morning on the tube, I was attracted to the Good Deed Feed – a section in which readers text in, expressing their thanks to strangers, friends and family who have done a good deed.  I was left truly heartened by this column. One woman gave thanks to “the kind lady” who woke her up at her station, another dedicated her text to “the young man in the peaked cap” for topping up her oyster card when she was late and had forgotten her purse. Just this morning, I saw a man helping an elderly woman off the train, another passing a gentleman his umbrella after leaving it on the seat.

So whilst everyone who endures an extended daily commute during the Olympics is sure to complain, and there will still be those that leave a bag on the seat in an attempt to create a personalised Olympic challenge – I am sure that if you look carefully enough, you will see small, but incredibly significant good deeds, which will make you proud to be a Londoner.

By Francesca Rock