Take the train

I'm on the train to Edinburgh from London. It's all very pleasant. Nice weather, great views and plenty of leg room. I have, however, been watching the service staff on the train. They have been systemised out of the equation, so that the customer is actually semi in the way of them getting their job done. That includes setting up the cups for the next passenger. By sitting in the seat, you're actually getting in the way of them preparing the table for the next person who'll be sitting in the seat. In effect, they have a permanent mindset of completing the next task. So handing out a breakfast is the first step in taking it away, which is the first step in setting up for the next person. And on we go. It makes for a very unrelaxing environment, where everyone is walking around preparing for Peterborough, York, Darlington or wherever. There's a brief respite at Berwick once all is cleared away as they can't visibly get ready for anyone else. Although they still manage to put an upturned clean cup in front of me to make sure I know that Im only squatting in this seat until the next passenger arrives. You can see exactly why they do what they have to do. They are fulfilling their task but the bloke sitting in Seat M55 is actually getting in the way of them finishing that task. Just a very odd and unnerving experience.