Conversation Car

[pandmaster]

I was thinking the other day that a train (to a lesser extent a bus) are great platforms for socialising. It is difficult to strike up a conversation on PT as a lot of people like to read, do work, sleep, etc... and do not want to be disturbed. Some passengers may be up for a chat every now and then, particularly elderly people and tourists. Since there are dedicated carriages for shutting up, why not have a dedicated carriage (or section) for where people can sit or stand and make their intention clear that they are happy to chat? It may even boost patronage and would lead to better social cohesion.

[OzGamer]

I would be happy to see this happen, although introverts like me would be avoiding it as the train trip to work is conversely some of my most valued solitude time, with family at one end and work colleagues at the other. Extroverts, however, would probably love a green light to make conversation with strangers. Why not?

[bcasey]

Its a nice idea in theory, although being an introvert myself as well, I would probably avoid it. In practice, though, would there be enough demand for this to fill a train car? and what about people who can't fit on other cars and have to use that car, but aren't in the mood for talking, and prefer to use that time for their own time, as ozgamer suggested. Also, if this is implemented, you would probably need to move the quiet carriage to one of the end cars of the 3-car set, and this car to the other end, particularly in the newer trains that don't have doors separating each car.

[MichaelJ]

There was a Love Express that went around down here in Sydney a few months ago. It gave people the opportunity for some speed dating over a couple of hours. Seemed quite popular too.

[pandmaster]

It does not have to be a whole car. It could be just a section.

The issue of people being forced in the area when they do not want to converse is the same as people being forced into the quiet car when they want to be noisy. It is a good point.

[pandmaster]

Maybe I was onto something after all. The BBC reporting on research that talking to strangers on one's commute can have positive impacts.

We asked bus and train commuters in Chicago how they would feel about striking up a conversation on their morning commute, compared to sitting in solitude or doing whatever they normally do. Most thought that talking would lead to the least pleasant commute.

However, when we actually carried out the experiment, those randomly assigned to talk had the most pleasant commute.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-48459940