So I thought I would write a few Glasgow subway tricks and tips on general subway survival. If anyone else has some tips then send them in and we will post them as a guide. Here is a few of my starters anyway.
- Want to get on the subway first? Well if you want to know roughly where the subway is going to stop when you are standing on the platform then look down. The subway will pull up at roughly the same place each time and if you look at the platform then you can see the dirty marks where people step on and off the platform. If you want to be first on the subway then stand either side of one of these big dirty marks and you will find that the subway door will draw up right next to you. Everyone gets off and you should be standing right next to the door, ready to grab the best seat.
- Buy your travel passes the night before. If you are a regular commuter and have the ordeal of getting a new 28 day pass then do it the night before on your way home. Mornings are always a lot busier for tickets and so you will either find yourself queuing, or being the person holding everyone up as the member of staff has to load the credit on to your card. All the stations can issue you a new pass and, critically, they can set it to start the next day. Just ask. Nothing better than buying your pass the night before on the way home, only to waltz past the queue of people the next morning with a newly renewed pass in hand.
- If you have to stand then move down the carriage. If you use the subway regularly then you will no doubt have heard the staff shouting at people to do so and while it is common courtesy it is actually in your own interests, especially if you are going a reasonable journey round the circle and want a seat. Within a couple of stops the long lines of people sitting down will rotate round as people get off and the people who were standing will now find themselves sitting. If you are only going a stop or two then stand across the way from the door you came in and let the others behind you move down the carriage.
- Know where you are getting off. If you are standing on a platform waiting for a train then have a think about where the stairs are at the station you are going to. You can then get on the front or back carriage nearest the stairs.
- If the subway is quiet then the middle carriage is always empty. If you want some peace and space to spread out then the middle carriage is for you. Strangely enough however, it is usually the most crammed when the subway is busy as people tend to group in the middle on a packed platform. When busy usually the best bet is the furthest door from the stairs.
- If you are going to the opposite side of the subway network and it’s only one or two stops extra to go round the other way then it is usually a good idea to avoid the Govan Halt. The drivers will often change over at Govan and you can spend a good few minutes waiting. If it’s out of peak hours then it may be quicker going the slightly longer route through town.
- And the old favourite (even I forget this one) – always have your pass ready for going through the barriers. Tourists may be surprised when they have to get their tickets out to depart through the barriers but locals have no excuses. Nothing worse than standing behind someone fishing in their pockets or purse for a ticket they know they have somewhere. If you are not sure then please move away from the barriers and let others through, many of us have jobs to go to!
Jimmy Monteith
Glasgow and SEO wideboy. So I'm told anyway. I love getting around this exciting and vibrant city. Been riding the rails since I was a child and know every stretch of the Clockwork Orange.
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