The Day the Train Went Backwards

Yes, the latest train line is named after one of my favourite 80s indie rock groups. Yes, I have already written about it from the opening of its second line. And yes, it has spoiled me to the point that I have avoided the metro more often than is healthy.

Maybe that is why what happened last Thursday amused and annoyed me at the same time.

It was the day I gave my last official exam and class to one group, and I was in a good mood, having marked them before leaving the college. I walked down in the cold to Gare Centrale and headed to the REM line...and waited.

The train was there; the doors were open; the line was not moving. The yellow light above each set of doors indicated a delay. I did not panic, knowing that it was the rush hour, that it was winter (a very important factor), and that this is Montréal. We may be heading for a fourth strike on December 11th, and we need to appreciate any sort of public transportation that still works. So, I stepped inside, and I waited...

And I waited.

And I waited.

And the cars began to fill up.

Usually, I mind my own business when I am forced to be crushed face to face with the city's best and tiredest. We all seemed to be in a mood that indicated we have played this game before, and we have to play it one more time. No one was upset or angry.

And then the train began to move.

And then the train stopped.

And it went backwards.

The laughter was spontaneous and real when we all felt the car stop, and begin to head back to our place of origin. And I could not help myself when I announced that it was ''Groundhog Day'' (no one seemed to get the Bill Murray reference), and we were told that the train would have to return because of ''technical issues''.

There was more waiting, and eventually, I got back on board...and ended up heading in the wrong direction.

I am sure that I heard all of the announcements before stepping back onboard. And I am sure that I did not suddenly lose my mind or get distracted when I took all the photos I could, including the one above. But somehow, I ended up on another crowded ride...to Ile-des-Soeurs (Nun's Island). I had to hop off, trade platforms, and wonder about my sense of direction.

One nice touch here: it is a beautiful view when heading from that piece of land back to Montréal. I should explain why: part of the train line is all indoors. This is the section that I use and it runs from only three stations: Édouard Montpetit, McGill and Gare Centrale. Outside of those lines, the train runs outdoors on elevated tracks. You hae an incredible view of the suburbs and the change from the urban environment, especially at night, is striking. That should have been included in my list of photos.

But no, no... I had to get home, think about the trip I just took, and how a little technical problem changed my point of view and attitude about my adopted ville.

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

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