the train

While on my way home this evening on the SkyTrain, a young lady and a male friend got on at one of the stations (Broadway).  Rather than take a seat, because there were a few since it wasn't fully packed, they opted to stand in the doorway nearest me.  I was seated at the end of a row of seats with a glass partition between me and the door.  The young lady was in the doorway leaning against the partition and the young guy was standing closer to the centre aisle leaning against a pole next to me on my left.

At one point the guy, slim and wearing blue denim jeans, adjusted his footing looking down to where my feet were.  Later, at one point, his calf touched my left thigh, not just once but at least twice.  By this point either of them could have sat down together most anywhere.  They both got off at New Westminster station and I continued on to my stop at Sapperton (grocery shopping).

Why do people do what they do?  That's why we have sociologists, psychologists and psychiatrists studying people and their interactions, not to mention find out why they do what they do and the motivations behind their actions.  This evening it felt like someone playing footsie under a table and it wasn't with the person they were with or perhaps close to socially.  I was just waiting for the train to make a sudden stop and have him fly in my lap or on the floor.  The train has been known to make these sudden stops on occasion.  Judging by what I saw when they left, he could fly in my lap any day and I would have tried to save him from embarrassment, he was certainly good-looking enough for anyone!  Anyway, you can think about the ways this might have turned out otherwise.  More later...

~ Volker

south asian

On my way home on the SkyTrain this evening a young guy got on at Granville station and sat down on the seat to my immediate left between me and a support post.  He was slim in build wearing medium blue denim jeans, a jacket with dark hair.  It appeared me to be south asian, perhaps tamil (darker skin).  His right leg was nestled up against my left and his right arm snuggled behind my left.  I got good vibes from him.  Perhaps he's sat down beside me before!  The seat to his left was empty but a young woman was sitting down to the left of that.  When the seats opposite us emptied, he just sat where he was, making no attempt to move.  He ended up getting up  and off the train at Edmonds station.  All in the life of travelling on the SkyTrain.  Have a good night, guys! - V

hot dudes II

This image would best describe the look of the hot guy in my previous post. Picture this but with shorter stubble and a jacket in white. So, Zac will have to stand in for this guy today. Check out more hot dudes on the blog called Sawdust Caesars. The link is in the right-hand sidebar. Have an awesome weekend, guys! - V

hot dudes

Yesterday morning I was on my way to work on the SkyTrain heading for Burrard Station as usual when a couple of good-looking guys got on the train, can't remember which station, but they sat opposite to me and were occasionally conversing in German with each other. Both appeared to be in their early 20s , of slim build and hot looking, especially the guy on my left wearing shades. Both appeared to be tall and just over six feet in height, like my bf. The one wearing the sunglasses was dressed in white. I took quick glances at him now and then. He reminded me of my bf! His partner was examining a map of BC as the train was nearing the downtown. They didn't get off at Burrard but continued on to Waterfront. If I didn't have to work, I would have struck up a conversation and perhaps joined them, even offered to be a tour guide of sorts. It would have given me a chance to use my German. Every now and then I see someone I can't seem to take my eyes off of. Do you have such experiences? - V

the promise of youth!

This evening while on my way home on the SkyTrain, a mother with a child in a stroller got on the train at one of the stops. The stroller was near the door and where I was seated. The boy was probably not much more than three years of age. He was very happy, self-confident and sure of himself. His mother must have found this amusing because at some points she was smiling. Children are so precious, they are our future and as yet unblemished by the trials and problems of adulthood. I've rarely seen a child interact with a complete stranger in this way. He should grow up to be quite the young man! It would be interesting to see the results!!! There's more to life than we could imagine! - V

touch

Yesterday, while on my way to work on the SkyTrain, a cute asian guy, just a little shorter than me, got on at the 29th Street Station. Aside from being cute he was sporting a rather nice bulge in his jeans, plough as they used to say, which also had my attention.

So the train was packed as has been the case since the Labour Day weekend when students came back to school and summer vacations were done for the year. So he stood directly in front of me by the door, my back against the partition and his back to me. Every so often, as the train swayed as it proceeded into town, his body would touch mine ever so gently. It felt rather good actually. I could have easily put my arms around him if I knew him well and if he was my significant other.

Sadly, two stops later he got out to let people past and then went a little further into the train, so the moment was gone. Still it was appreciated and there's that continued longing for my boyfriend who'll certainly make it all right. I think you know who I'm talking about and so does he!

Meantime, enjoy the moment! Everything has meaning, even if we do not realize or understand it at the time. - V

what a day

This morning the SkyTrain had its problems which caused severe delays in people being able to get where they had to go. That included myself. I usually leave earlier than I have to in order to take such delays without getting too late. And today (Friday)? Well, I was still late for work. I arrived about 9:30 am when the start time is 9 in the morning. By the time I was changed and ready to start it was 9:30.

The day only got better. When I returned home, I found an envelope taped to my apartment door. It appears the rent cheque bounced and additional funds are owning. Tomorrow I'm out to get a money order to rectify the matter. It seems I've been focused on taking care of other's needs but mine are important too. All this said, I'm looking forward to someone's arrival, someone very special to me. If it turned out different, it would be a heart break and we all know what that means! Here's hoping for a better tomorrow!!! - V

weekend

The weekend is finally here but it started with a bang in a manner of speaking. Yesterday evening, when it was time to leave work, it was pouring rain mixed with ice pellets. I kept saying it could snow and the guard that had relieved me kept saying, "don't say that!" All of this was on my mind as I was humming the Andrew Sisters rendition of "Jingle Bells" as the mix of rain and hail came down. Everytime I mentioned the "snow" word I would hear, "Don't say that!"

Well, I was off without unpacking my umbrella. That would wait until I reach the station I was to catch the bus at. I joined someone on the homeward trip on the SkyTrain. We were chatting as the storm continued unabaited outside. There was a flash of lightning as we stopped at another station and then thunder. While chatting we both relayed our stories about lightning, including my comment about the thought back east where the chance of getting struck by lightning was better than winning the lottery. Then on our way again there was another bolt of lightning and loud thunder. That's when I learned that she was afraid of lightning and switched to another seat across from me, so that she wouldn't have to see the lightning!

She mentioned that people get killed by lightining and then I'm thinking to myself, "how does moving away so as not to see the lightning change anything?" Lightning is still going to do what it's going to do! I'm not much for irrational fears but on the otherhand, if it's our time to go and our number is up, then so be it. There's no sense in fearing the end (death) since we're all going to experience it at one point or another. It's as much a fact of life as birth is!

Then another flash and clap of thunder followed with more rain and hail. I got my bus and was home soon enough. The rain continued into the night and was still pouring as I went to bed around 11 pm.

It's now early afternoon Saturday. The sky is dull and overcast with light rain falling which doesn't seem surprising at all since most of November has been like this: dull, grey overcast with rain, and lots of it!

This afternoon I plan to take the SkyTrain over to Metrotown in south Burnaby to get some grocery shopping done before returning home to get some laundry done. Mundane stuff, yes, but it all needs to be done and out of the way. After that, it's more time at the computer. I may even take some time to scan some photos and see how they turn out. A few of the good ones will be posted if all turns out okay. That's the plan anyway. More later! - V.

the other day - Friday

Yesterday (Friday) was a hectic day at work with the supervisor off sick and those filling in not being used to working the daytime shift. This meant a lot of extra work for me to do, aside from the usual. Ever tried doing two or three things at the same time, like preparing a courier item online, while leaving a message on someone's voicemail and having visitors waiting to be greeted??? It can be done but it's stressful. It's these times when we see how much we are capable of doing!

The commute in to work and back is usually rather routine, nothing exciting, but Friday's trip home on the train had an interesting diversion. As usual for the trip home, I commute by taking a SkyTrain into Waterfront station, cross the platform to an awaiting train all to get a seat. That wouldn't be the case at the station nearby work since everyone is crammed in like sardines at that point. It's a little extra time but worth it.

Anyway, homeward bound at good-looking guy got on at station or two after I got on at Waterfront. He was standing until we got to Broadway station. Then a person beside me got up and he filled that space. I took to time to have a look at him occasionally. It's either that or spend time looking out at the scenery going by as the train moves on to the east away from Vancouver. He looked to be in his early 20s, about six foot tall (give or take an inch or two either way), had short blondish hair, lovely blue eyes, had a trim athletic physique wearing khaki-coloured shorts (the ones with the bulky pockets), a dark blue, short-sleeved t-shirt and a white baseball cap. The guy sat there with his legs spread open, his left thigh against my right, with neither one of us attempting to move back. I spent time looking at his hands, the back of his head and neck, as he was leaning forward at one point. That was also when I noticed his blue eyes! And he did take the time to take a peak at me as well! If I had my business cards ready at the time, I would have given him one with the prospect of getting this modeling photography started. He'd have made a perfect model, well, one that I'd take the time to photography anyway!!! Sadly, he got off at Metrotown!

So, how was your day? Anything exciting happen to you or come your way??? - V.

Sexy

As one of my recent posts might suggest (the train), I see stuff on the way to work that piques my interest, so here's another one to share.

The other day, as I was heading off to work in town, using the SkyTrain as usual, a good looking guy in his early 20s, I'd guess, got on the train at Joyce station (I believe). As usual, I was standing at the door against the partition facing toward the back of the train and he was standing in front of me but facing away from the door, towards the aisle in other words. Then he suddenly turned to face me. Seeing as he was less than two feet away from me, I got a good look at him. Being caucasian, his hair was a sandy blond and short, similar in length to Orlando in the previous post, with blue eyes (lighter shade) and stunningly handsome wearing grey-coloured sweats with a bag over his shoulder. I'm just under 5 foot 10 inches tall and he was probably a bit taller. He would make a perfect model for me to photograph (by the way, I hope to start shooting models by July, if not sooner). I don't know whether he was gay or str8, and don't care either way, but he was very easy on the eyes as you might imagine.

A couple of young women got on at the next station, so one of them was between him and me. I'd rather he had been closer but heck, that's the way things are sometimes. As the train was approaching Broadway station, he turned to face the door and he departed the train at that station. Such a shame! I could easily have taken to seeing more of him. If I were to hazard a guess, he was likely a university student, perhaps UBC (University of British Columbia).

There are a number of hotties that are seen often enough on the trains or buses locally, so keep posted for more. I just wanted to share my experience, so you can comment with your own if you wish. - V.

Mark II

Translink, the company that runs the SkyTrain, has started receiving the new Mark II 1300 and 1400 series trains. The photo above is from Translink's blog, The Buzzer Blog [ http://buzzer.translink.ca ], where you can learn more about the new trains and see more photos. An articulated train is currently located on a siding in Stadium station for those who would like to see one first-hand and who live locally. I'll have some of my own photos coming up soon. Meantime, check out the link. - V.

the train

Every weekday morning, statutory holidays excluded, I take the train (SkyTrain) into work which means about 35 minutes on the rails after we disembark from the short bus ride to the SkyTrain station at Braid in Sapperton. By the time we are half or more of the way into town it can get rather packed and by the time the train reaches Joyce station, certainly so. Other times it can be packed full of people on their way to work or school from the start. As a result, people can get crowded together closely, rather intimately. Some are comfortable with this, some just accept it and others aren't comfortable with this situation at all. Those that are uncomfortable with it just move back a bit.

Then there are some you'd really not get close to but you have no choice in the matter (well, actually you do, but this would involve taking the bus instead of the train and a longer ride to work but I digress). At Joyce there are a lot of people that push their way onto the train. Well, months ago there was a middle-aged asian guy that got on and the odour was just bearable for me though I tried very hard not to breathe too deeply. It was a combination of body odour and the smell of moth balls (the overcoat was probably not drycleaned in ages!). All the while there was another asian, a woman, that asked me how I could stand it and she was rolling her eyes! I just shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes as well. She and others got off a few stops later, including the guy, and then mine was a bit further on, so we all survived to tell the tale.

Other times its more pleasant, if you know what I mean. This morning a young asian, a handsome enough of a guy, got on. It was crowded as usual. We were both standing near the door. He was sort of facing me but a bit off to my right with his right arm extended around me and around my left shoulder to hold the corner to my left in order to steady himself, just short of hugging me. It was rather intimate and he apologized but he needn't have. It didn't bother me in the slightest and he made no effort to move either, so it can't have bothered him either. During the five minute ride to the next station our bodies would touch each other lightly with every swaying movement of the train. It was rather pleasant but even better if it had been a boyfriend, but nice just the same. I was even getting a bit turned on by it all! As short as it was, it was better than spending time together with someone with an odour problem as my previous example points out. We do what we have to do and enjoy the pleasures in life when they do cross our paths. Enough about my travels on the train for now.

So, here it's past my bedtime and getting rather late. Hopefully your life has its pleasures to enjoy, so make the most of them when the opportunity arises. Meantime, have a great night and an awesome remaining work week (if you're working) or enjoy life whatever you're doing! More later!!! - V.

day to day activities

Its lunch time here on the west coast, raining lightly and the sky is a dull grey. I just had a hot shower after getting up late (after 11 am) and feel refreshed and alive ready to tackle the day's activities, including the laundry that I didn't get done yesterday!

During a weekday, I normally get up around 5 am, do the usual bathroom activities like taking a pee, brushing my teeth and having a good, long, hot shower to wake me up for the coming workday. Then I pack what I'm going to take into work with me, such as a change of clothes and food for breaks and lunch (I usually don't buy anything except on occasion, like paydays), and then prepare some breakfast, usually oatmeal with fruit, granola or shreaded wheat in the summer, plus toast and tea. Then I sit down to fire up the computer (laptop) and read whatever emails might have been received since the previous day. All the while, I haven't gotten dressed yet. I sleep nude and don't get dressed until long after getting out of the shower. Usually about 7 am I put on a t-shirt, then some socks and briefs, take one final trip to the bathroom before getting into my jeans, putting shoes on and adding a jacket, sweater or nothing further, depending on the weather and the time of year. I grab my backpack, turn off the lights and head out the door, locking up behind me.

The bus is usually at the main corners where I live shortly after 7:30, so I leave home no later than 7:20 (I've got it down to a science). Its a short ride to the SkyTrain station and then a 30 minute or so ride into town where I work. The SkyTrain ride is the usual, crowed after 22nd Street station and particularly bad at Joyce, where people often step on my toes getting in. I stay positioned near the doors, so I can easily get out rather than fighting my way through toward the doors when needing to exit. Aside from getting stepped on, I have gotten pushed, squeezed against the partition where I'm standing, had my nuts rapped a few times, and so on. After twenty years of taking the trains you'd think people would have a handle on it by this time but this is not the case. They can be rude and selfish, stand in front of the doors when people are trying to get off, or worse, get on while people are getting off. Going home is no different, just in the reverse. The train gets less packed as you get closer to home.

I spend my day at work doing what I have to do and then am off at 5 pm but often don't get out the door until around 5:30 pm or so. If something has happened that requires my attention, then I might get out a bit later. That's the weekday!

On weekends, I sleep in, obviously not getting up at 5 am, and often get up between 9 and 10 am, but on a rare occasion will be up between 8 and 9 am. The weekends is when I get stuff done, especially in the colder months of the year where the daylight hours are so short. In the summer its different because there is so much more daylight to work with. So in the summer I can spread things out through the week taking my camera along for a trip after work, such as Stanley Park or Burnaby Mountain as just two examples. The weekend is when the lion's share of chores and such are done (i.e. laundry, cooking, cleaning the apartment, etc) and of course, any excursions about the Greater Vancouver area. Such destinations as Grouse Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park and Victoria are still in the works. Of course, there's Whistler where I haven't been yet either.

I do plan on setting up a studio in the livingroom area and get started at doing indoor photography, so getting studio lights and such is a must. That will be done as we get into spring. All that may require adjusting the schedule some, the after work hours one that is. With a partner living and working with me (photography) it may mean adjusting the schedule some for that reason alone.

These are exciting times but this is my normal day to day schedule, so I'm active even when not working. Needless to say, I don't spend a lot of time in front of a tv but do have plenty of movies on dvds and vhs tapes to spend an evening with a diversion for two. Getting out to enjoy a restaurant or bar is a very strong possibility once my partner's here. I don't care to eat or drink alone. I can do that at home currently. Getting out in nature to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and exercise is what its about for most of the year.

Have a great Sunday and week for those that are already there! Now its off to finish my late breakfast and then get the laundry done.

Delays

Wednesday morning I was off to work as usual. The bus was not as crowded as would normally be the case on a weekday morning. The students that would be on were off for two weeks. When I got to Braid SkyTrain Station, I took the escalator up to the platform to catch the train into Vancouver but found a two car train waiting. People were getting on but that train was packed. Then I saw another train with the usual number of cars sitting outside the station waiting for this "short" one to leave. I got on the second train when it entered the station. The ride into town went well and the train was less crowded than would normally be the case.

Now the SkyTrain system had been experiencing delays because of the snow and cold weather. It had snowed again overnight and was snowing all day Wednesday. Later in the afternoon I check the website at work to find that a tree had fallen on the eastbound track between Nanaimo and 29th Street Stations bringing traffic in both directions to a halt. It would be hours before the debris was removed from the tracks. Then there was a problem with frozen switches. Trains had been kept running during the previous night to minimize these issues.

When it came time to leave work and head home, the system was still experiencing delays. I got up to the train platform to find it filled with people and the eastbound train full. I got on but learned that the train had been sitting there for over an hour. So, I went back downstairs to see if I could catch a bus to Metrotown and then proceed in some fashion from there. The buses were arriving full, packed to the doors, and not even my route (I was looking for the 19 bus). That was a waste of time, so I went back to the platform to get on the train taking my chances. The train left some minutes later with me on it but by the time it did leave, it had been at the station for an hour and a half. The debris from the tree had finally been removed allowing the backed up system to function again. From there it was smooth and without incident. I got off at 22nd Street to catch the 154 bus further into New Westminster. The bus arrived some minutes after arriving at the station and I got home faster than if I had taken the usual route. Despite the weather and the problems with the SkyTrain system, I still managed to arrive at work and return home without too many problems. Others were not so fortunate but such is life!

I read in the paper Tuesday that a manager had misread the instructions left for him, so a truck was not sent out to de-ice the overhead trolley wires in Vancouver. Needless-to-say, only a small fraction of trolley actually went into service and diesel buses were brought in to pick up the slack. Extra trains were put in service to handle the larger crowd expected. I encountered some unhappy people coming into work who had to walk because their trolley buses were not running. Its amazing how one action, or lack of one, can have a domino effect to negatively effect others throughout a city. Did everyone learn something that day? I hope so!

So, here it is Christmas Day with a "winter wonderland" waiting for me outside. Now that I've had breakfast, I'll get dressed and go for a walk with camera in hand. Expect a post with a few lovely photos later today. Meantime, Merry Christmas! Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

Zoo

Well, it seemed like a zoo though I didn't visit one in actuality. I took the SkyTrain home and stopped at Metrotown on the way to do some grocery shopping. The train was packed as would be the case before Christmas. The platforms were busy too. People were in a good mood generally, though some insisted wearing their backpack in a crowded train which caused atleast one person to vent his frustration. There is far more of that (wearing backpacks on the train) than you would ever find back east. Having lived and worked in Toronto for six years, I can't remember ever seeing such a thing and people there stand aside to allow people to get off the train before they enter. Here it seems they stand right in front of the door blocking people's exit, or worse yet, enter while others are trying to get off. Such are the frustrations of using mass transit here in the Vancouver area. You'd think after using this form of mass transit for a decade they would know better but they don't. I even spoke to a SkyTrain person over a month ago and she agreed, they are rude and inconsiderate. They're not at all like that in Toronto, Montreal, London (England), Berlin (Germany) or Stockholm (Sweden), just to name a few places I've been.

After I got off at Metrotown, I walked through the mall and over to Kingsway where I thought the grocery store was located. After a detour, I realized that the store was on the south end of the mall facing Kingsway and not across the street as I had thought. Some walking for nothing. Well, I used the gift card I got from my employer to buy groceries, and before you knew it, I was through a hundred dollars. The supplies will last me for two weeks and some of it longer than that. I settled on turkey wings to either bake in the oven or use as a base for a soup. I'll decide on that on Christmas Day, my next day off work. I also bought some cold cuts, cheese, marmalade, bread, cake and other necessities. The small basket was filled but its amazing how quickly a hundred dollars disappears!

Traffic on the transit was also affected by the snow we had over the weekend and particularly last night. More is expected. The main roads were fine but the side streets were a nightmare driving and sidewalks were a real challenge for those walking. It wasn't overly cold, just below freezing (-3 or -4). I guess as the temperatures warmed from the arctic-type temperatures last week, the snow came along with the change. I guess all of Canada is expecting a white Christmas this year. For the Vancouver area, its the first in a decade or so. When I first arrived here in 2006, the winters were rather green, except in the higher elevations where you would definately expect snow.

I read about the extreme weather with snow and hurricane force winds in Nova Scotia. Quite a number of households were without power as a result. Here some had to do with frozen water pipes and thawing snow on the stove top to heat for washing dishes and such. I hope you had better weather where you are and if the weather was severe, you weathered it without too much disruption.

Well, after I getting home and sorting everything away, I had supper and then got to the computer for a bit. Time has flown and now its time for bed. Tomorrow is another day. You have a good one!

Surreal

Heading out to work in the morning is usually uneventful and dull but this morning (Friday) as the bus drove east toward the SkyTrain station, I could see that the Fraser River was covered in a fog with the sun just starting to peek above the clouds and the Cascade Mountains to the east. Once I was on the train and we were past New Westminster station, the surreal nature of the fog became very apparent. The Fraser River had a fog hanging over it which spilled over to the land to the east. Between New Westminster station and 2nd Street station highrise condos on land and barge cranes on the water poked through the low-hanging cloudcover. Off to the east and low on the horizon the sun shon like a beacon over this surreal display and off to the south-east Mount Baker, a volcano, rose above all the clouds and mist to add its bit to the scene.

As the train continued on toward Vancouver from 22nd Street, frost was noticed on the roof tops of houses and off to the south the city of Richmond, much of it just above sea level, had both mist and frost as far as the eye could see. Smoke and exhaust stacks sent their contents high into the sky. If you looked carefully, you could see the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state plus the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia off in the distance.

After Metrotown station the train usually fills up rather quickly. At Joyce station the people would just file in like lemmings. This morning I don't know how many times my toes were stepped on but enough times or pressed toward the wall near the entrance to the train, one of three on each side of each car. Its almost necessary to wear body armour to keep from getting injured. Some would push their way in eventhough there was little free room. Then Broadway station was another similar scene as it is most days. Then the doors had trouble closing, so SkyTrain staff advised passengers to assist closing the doors that were having trouble closing. The trains are driverless you know! However, the train finally got to its destination in Vancouver where I got off to make the short walk to work.

This brings to mind that I miss having someone with me on these treks on the train. Of those times when I was squeezed in amongst people, I didn't mind sharing space with a cute guy, if you know what I mean. This would have me thinking of Brad, of course. He would love sharing the ride with me, I'm sure. The odd occasion a guy would rest his back against my chest or an arm would stretch over my shoulder while he would hang on to the pole behind me.

The oddest scene was a short woman, likely southern European, in a crowded train facing me and pushing her hands against my chest to keep her balance, all the while laughing nervously. This has happen in the past and happened again a couple of days ago. Or the case where I stood near the door and crowded in as usual only to hear a woman behind me say "excuse me" when the train hadn't stopped yet and therefore the doors still closed. I had turned around, look her straight in the eyes and said, "I'll move when the doors open!" or something to that effect. When they did open, people spilled out and another woman thanked me for saying what I did. I guess it had to be said to remind these people lacking common sense. We all have our days, so I guess this person had hers!

Meantime, with all this aside, I am still waiting for Brad to arrive. I do hope he hasn't gotten lost of something. He's a lot better at navigating at sea than on land, so I promissed to take care of navigating on land when we travel and leave the water navigation to him. That way none of us will ever get lost and we benefit from each others strengths. Something to look forward to, don't you think? Mostlikely, though, I think he may have stopped at a number of locations along the way and is having too much fun!

Well, it is late and time for bed, so I'll close this post for now. Have a great weekend and keep coming back for more commentary and photos! - Volker

Driverless SkyTrain

To got to the various places around the Greater Vancouver area I use the "driverless" SkyTrain to get about quickly and then bus or electric trolley buses from there. The above photo is of Brentwood SkyTrain station on the Millenium Line in north Burnaby and the one below is of a train leaving the same station heading west toward VCC Clark station. These trains are driverless and our current computer technology makes this all possible. Otherwise the concept of overhead trains has been around for over a hundred years such as in Germany as an example.

Then above is a train entering Braid SkyTrain station on the Millenium Line. A trip from north Surrey to downtown Vancouver (Burrard station) takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending upon the time of day and how busy it is. I just thought you might like to see what the trains and the stations look like. - Volker