It seems ages ago (11 years to be exact) that I spent too many hours trying to get to work by train---with emphasis on trying. I mostly remember that period as a dreadful one where the long hours, both from work and from the commute, gradually turned me into a zombie. Braaaainnnzz! Brainz Baking and then Eating? Does this also go with cool dance moves? I digress.

There were some good moments there as well, and in this post, I'd like to try and remember them both---with emphasis on try.

The positive experiences I recall from commuting by train:

• Mostly traveling together with colleagues. Sometimes seeing them run and fail to catch the train on the platform of my next stop.
• Dragging along a book, the Nintendo (3)DS, or the laptop to have some fun while we move along, and then falling asleep because of the aforementioned zombie state. You'll want to sit next to colleagues that wake you up in time for this one.
• Traveling with colleagues that are also transitioning into a zombie is great: they also don't want to talk in the morning! Go ahead, close your eyes. In the late afternoon, during the long trip back home, we of course ranted about the stupid things co-workers did that day.
• This may sound silly but standing on a platform waiting in the cold at the crack of dawn sometimes felt just perfect. Until that smoker takes their stance too close to you, even though the platform is nearly empty.
• Just by talking to strangers on the train, I met a colleague of my dad who even seemed to know him. We even agreed to have a drink a few weeks later just to chit-chat a bit.
• Just by talking to strangers on the train, I met someone who was interested in what I was doing on my laptop, which was writing a National Novel Writing Month excerpt. I even ended up selling a book to her.
• It's crazy to see the exact same people waiting for the exact same train every single day. After a while, and especially during delays or other problems, you start to bond. We're in this misery together!
• I'm glad I never had to drive the car right into the heart of the capital of Europe. Even if the commute by train was too long, I don't think defying traffic would have shortened it.
• Looking through the window and seeing the landscape and obligatory cows flash by without you doing anything is just great. Provided the train is capable of moving, that is.
• Some people leave the train a few stops before mind and "forget" their newspaper. I didn't mind---yoink!
• Flashing that subscription badge towards the conductor is awesome. Yeah, that's right, I'm one of them seasoned folks, I ain't got no stupid one-time ticket!

Speaking of not moving, that's a negative experience:

• The Belgian railway is notoriously bad when it comes to timing. You almost feel like winning the lottery if the train arrives on time.
• Timing isn't the only problem. In the winter, the overhead lines are frozen and the locomotives won't budge, and in the summer, locomotives overheat and won't budge either. Doors that are stuck is a problem for all seasons.
• Or how about this: in very dry and hot weather, the greenery next to the tracks is on fire.
• What else, you ask? Does kids playing on the tracks near Brussels count? Our apologies for the delay.
• Sadly, I've also been in trains involved in suicides. I do wonder why these people planned to kill themselves during rush hour. A last sadistic attempt at sabotaging society? This ain't no small delay either.
• After a while, you're sick of hearing our apologies for the delay blast through the speakers. Railway employees must have picked up on that: sometimes, the speakers don't work at all. This also means you didn't notice that last minute track change. Oops. Better start mailing apologies for the delay to your boss.
• During summertime, having to go back home in one of those hand-me-down older trains without air conditioning that has been sitting in the sun all day isn't exactly a present either.
• Especially if another train has been cancelled and all those people have to somehow board yours. Looking forward to being jammed between overly sweaty people for one-and-a-half hours.
• Another unfortunate fact is harassment. I've witnessed people getting harassed and experienced it myself.
• While I never got my bike stolen during these years, I was always anxious about returning to the bike after the train ride. I've had a few nicked attachable lights and one time nearly the seat. This depends from station to station, of course, and I'd rather go by bike than having to park the car which I did the first years due to extra time pressure. Braaaainnnzz!
• I remember being sick and wanting to go back home, but the train was (of course) delayed. Those minutes rapidly start to feel like hours.
• I always hated my employer's ridiculous argument to convince me to take on the job far away from home: "but you can work on the train!" I'm a zombie thanks to your so-called great commute, do I look like I can be productive right now?

While I do miss the social experience of the train rides, I'm relieved that biking to work has permanently cured my zombie illness, and there's no amount of money that'll ever convince me to commute for hours five times a week ever again---whether that's by train or by car. Sure, I do catch a train now and then to another university campus, but that's (1) occasional, (2) not during rush hour, and (3) spanning less distance.