Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Tram Hijinks - Part 2

So today I'm waiting for the number 72 tram again. I arrive at 9:07. The tram is scheduled to arrive at 9:10. 9:10 passes. The next tram is scheduled to arrive at 9:19. 9:19 passes. I decide to ring the Metlink Information line to see if there's going to be an even longer delay. The conversation went something like this:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recorded Message: All our operators are currently busy. Your call will be answered shortly.

30 seconds pass

Phone Operator (P.O): Hello. Metlink. This is [Insert indescipherable name here]. How may I help you?

Me: Hi. I've been waiting for the number 72 tram to Melbourne University for about 20 minutes and I'm just wondering if you know if there's been an accident or something that's delaying the tram?

P.O: No. There's nothing that I know of. I'll just check though.

Checking sounds

P.O: Oh. Yeah. There's a [insert indescipherable object here] blocking the trams. They've said it should take about 20 minutes to clear and that was 15 minutes ago. So there should be a tram in 5 minutes. Is that okay?

Me: Yeah. That's fine. Thanks.

Hang Up

---------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Ending:

P.O: Oh. Yeah. There's a [insert indescipherable object here] blocking the trams. They've said it should take about 20 minutes to clear and that was 15 minutes ago. So there should be a tram in 5 minutes. Is that okay?

Me: No. It's not really okay. I mean, I'm going to be late, not that it matters. Plus, I've been sitting on this bench for about 20 minutes. It was lucky I have a portable music player otherwise I'd probably be asking for a bit more from you; perhaps some kind of "We're so sorry about the problems we've been having with our system. Here, have a life-time Zone 1,2 & 3 ticket" apology gift.

O.R.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Tram Hijinks

Question: What is wrong with Victoria's public transport system?
Answer: I don't know, but I'm trying to find out.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(refer to Train Hijinks, particularly the farting incident.)

The number 72 tram is running late which, suprisingly, is abnormal. It finally comes and due to it's delay it is quite full already. Not just: "Oh, I won't get a seat" full or "Wow! I'm standing pretty close to this guy" full, but "Sorry for placing the entire front of my body against the entire back of your body" full (also known as 'Bulging Door Syndrome').

So I squeeze in. The doors close. The tram starts to move, and low and behold (I don't even understand that saying) I smell the familiar scent of brown gas.

DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!

O.R.