Shhh …. Silence Please

Normally, Santanu and I prefer to keep to ourselves during bus, train, or flight journeys, lost in our own worlds of books, newspapers, and iPods. We respect each other’s silence and enjoy the quiet companionship of our personal distractions. However, on one particular evening, while traveling back to Zurich from Luzern, we found ourselves chatting more than usual. Perhaps it was the familiarity of the scenic train ride, with its ever-changing views of lakes, rivers, and rolling hills, that made the conversation flow so easily.

As we approached Zurich, with only about 20 minutes left of our journey, a lady from the seat behind Santanu approached us.

Lady: “Do you speak English?”

Santanu: “Yes, we do,” (replied enthusiastically, thinking she might have a question or a comment about something we were discussing).

Lady: “I think you might not have noticed the sign,” (pointing to a picture showing a ‘silence compartment’ on the opposite window) “as it’s not visible from your window. You’re in a silence compartment.”

Us: (in unison) “Oops!!! Sorry.”

We were taken aback. We had been talking non-stop for quite some time, oblivious to the fact that we were in a silence compartment. It was quite embarrassing to realize that none of our fellow passengers had made a sound. We had traveled through many countries but had never encountered such a specific compartment designation before. The concept was new to us, and we were left in silent amazement (literally) until we reached Zurich and disembarked.

Although we were not upset by the lady’s comment, we felt it would have been more considerate if she had informed us earlier, rather than waiting until the very end of the journey. The experience added a unique anecdote to our travels, highlighting yet another interesting aspect of Swiss railways.

The next day, while traveling in a normal compartment, Santanu discreetly ventured into one of these special compartments to capture a photo. It was a small but significant reminder of the diverse and sometimes surprising aspects of traveling.