Seeing Everyday Train Life around UK’s Stations

Posted by Deirdre Oakley, LONDON, ENGLAND – Great Britain’s rail system is the oldest in the world, the 18^th largest, and one of the most dense. In 2009 T-Mobile filmed a very entertaining advertisement in Liverpool’s Lime Street train station featuring a rehearsed flash mob dance which included everyday passengers. Liverpool’s station along with some of London’s busiest stations, like Euston and Paddington, are places full of people from all walks of life, as well as eateries, and retail. The people and establishments are densely packed together into fluid patterns creating a lively and fast moving tapestry of daily life. No wonder T-Mobile used on of these stations -- there’s never a dull moment. However, you do have to pay to use the “loo” at Euston.

Deirdre Oakley is the Editor of Social Shutter and an associate professor in the Sociology Department at Georgia State University. She can be contacted at doakley1@gsu.edu.