This incident was happened last week. I was so tired from my work. I couldn't catch the 10:08pm train from Rhodes train station so I have to wait for 30 minutes for the next train to arrive. So I arrived at the Strathfield train station nearly 11pm. I have to change train going to Liverpool station. I waited for 20 to 30 minutes for the next train to arrived at Strathfield station. When the time I got on the second train, it was 11:20pm already.

So it was late night, I was so tired, and inside the train was quiet since there were few people traveling that time. I usually sleep in train specially whenever I came from work. I took the chance and sleep while in the train. When the time I woke up, I still have 4 train station left to pass. I knew that I was near the station that I suppose to drop off but I can't remember how I came back to my sleep.

After few minutes, I woke up again. I knew that I already passed the Liverpool Station. I've done this many times already. I was wondering on what station did I ended up with. It was Leumeah, one station before the Campbeltown station (where most train terminates). It was 6 stations away from Liverpool.

I was still sleepy that time. I went to the other platform and wait for the next train to arrive. But I was wondering why there was no one in that station. There's no station manager or station security, no one to update the train schedule for that time. What I did was to find the train schedule for the whole train route. I couldn't find the next train's time slot. It was pass 12am already that's why! The next train in that station will arrive at 4am.

I was so worried and scared. I thought I have to wait until 4am just to go home. My mobile phone's battery was also dead that time so I couldn't make any calls. Luckily I had some coins in my wallet. I used them for the public payphone and call the taxi company to pick me up. When I was talking with one of the operators, she asked me on what side of the Leumeah station I was. How can I even know what side of the station I was?! There's no signs indicating the sides' names. She ask if I was at the Leumeah road or the other road (I forgot what it is). I just said I was at that side. Lol.

After 2 minutes, a taxi arrived on the other side of the station. Caused by my frustration, I begun to scream and wave my hands so the taxi driver will see me. I quickly ran to the other side of the station and went to the taxi.

I was lucky that night that I have $1 coin in my wallet. If I had none, I should've been waiting for that 4am train to arrive.

Notes:

1. Avoid riding taxi. They're too expensive. It costs me $50 from Leumeah to Liverpool (6 train stations, cost of $1.90). The taxi driver even asked me to give $50 deposit before we drove off to make some assurance that I can pay for the fare.
2. Avoid sleeping in train travels.

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."