It’s been one month since I adopted my new role as a ‘part-time Londoner.’ Twice a week, ‘Corporate Carla’ leaves her cottage at the crack of dawn and commences a walk down leafy avenues to the local station. From here, she is transported down the Metropolitan line to the hustle and bustle of the big city. In the words of Dolly Parton - “what a way to make a livin’.”
As easy as it may sound, surviving the commute is about more than minding the gap and keeping right on the escalator. Compiled from first-hand experience, along with a heady dose of trial and error, here are some top tips for commuting with confidence:
DO - Travel early.
Trains are fickle things and, if Thomas The Tank Engine taught us anything, it’s that these locomotives really do have a mind of their own. When the ‘Passenger Update’ announcement tolls of signal failures or leaves on the line, you can smirk at your fellow commuters' panic-stricken faces, knowing the train you actually need is the one following behind. You got this.
DO - Know your refunds.
Although ‘Hidden Knowledge of the Underground’ refers to derelict platforms and shuttered-down stations, the TfL refund policy seems just as furtively concealed. Surprisingly, a mere fifteen-minute delay is all you need to suffer to claim the single fare online. If you’ve endured a disrupted journey, it’s cheering to know you needn’t pay for the privilege.
DON’T - React to anything out of sorts.
The phrase ‘keep calm and carry on’ has never been as readily adopted as within the ranks of the commuter army. Be it dogs fighting, tuneless buskers or children in the throws of raging tantrums, all must be met with blank stares and glaring indifference. I recently arrived at the Farringdon ticket barriers to be met by a shirtless man who urgently warned us all that we were ‘slaves to the system.’ No-one reacted in the slightest, but, trudging through the station at 8AM on a cold grey morning, perhaps we all secretly agreed with him.
DO - Snack strategically.
As familiarity with your journey builds, it’s worth taking a mental note of longer breaks between stations as suitable snacking opportunities. This is something I learned the hard way. My train was unexpectedly terminated at Harrow-on-the-Hill one morning and, with no free hands, I ended up having to sprint across the platform with half a cereal bar hanging out my mouth. It wasn’t the best start to a Tuesday.
DON’T - Try to pay in cash.
As a dual national, I’m used to straddling two cultures. However, as a part-time Londoner, you must also learn to navigate two lifestyles as you embody both the town mouse and the country mouse. For instance, London’s overtly cashless culture may come as a surprise. I tried to pay for a coffee in Pret A Manger with cash, and the barista looked genuinely confused.
DO - Enjoy the ride
Despite its tendency to be stressful and monotonous, I’ve grown to like commuting. I view being a part-time Londoner as a chance to embrace both sides of my personality: the side that longs for busy streets and crowded bars, and the side that loves to curl up on the sofa with a good book. In short, when your train breaks down or a man in a pinstripe suit crushes your foot without apology, remind yourself that these train tracks are in fact a gateway to the best of both worlds.
