Travelling by public transport in London can easily put anyone off. All those delays, line closures, crowded trains, etc. I still think about teleportation every time I need to take the tube! Still, I am very impressed with the way that staff members try and counteract the negative effects of having to use the tube.

Classical music in the stations like Euston Square, members of staff singing at Christmas time, the humour staff display in crowded stations (I have heard good rap while they were giving instructions to members of the public!), etc. What impressed me the most was a series of light-hearted quotes written on the white boards they normally use to let us know about delays. Under the heading Thought of the Day, a quote is displayed all day long. I’ve only seen this at Angel station, did anyone ever see it somewhere else?

Apparently, a staff member found funny the fact that couples were banned to kiss good-bye at a railway station, because that was causing hold-ups. He wrote ‘Kissing is allowed at this station’, and it was so successful that they decided to write a new one every morning when the station opens at 5.40am. People go and see what’s written there, even if they aren’t taking the tube!

It does look like a very clever marketing tactic. The pictures are everywhere in social media. It has also helped to change my perception. Would it help to change yours too?

See some of these thoughts below. Be prepared to laugh too!

Thanks for reading!