Departure Board Personality Test

Marylebone is not a big station but it still offers the homeward bound commuter a number of options when choosing a place to stand and wait for the big board to announce the platform number for his or her train. To be precise there are five main waiting positions in the station and while the one you choose may not seem significant to you, the subtle difference in each position speaks volumes about the personality type of the commuter. What follows is a handy way to find out what your chosen standing position says about you as a person.

DIRECTLY BELOW THE BOARD:
A simple and honest, if somewhat unimaginative choice. This entry-level waiting position does exactly what it says on tin. There is the board, I'm standing under it and waiting. Boom. Nothing wrong with that. People who stand directly below the board are mostly straight-forward, clean-living people, if a bit dull. Few, it must be said, are high achievers. But that's no surprise. Especially to them. Bless.

UP NEAR THE TURNSTILES:
Interesting. While not prepared to stray too far from the safety of the big board, this subtle shift toward the platform effectively removes these commuters from the fray and puts them one step closer to the turnstiles when their track number is finally assigned. If this is your standing place you are fractionally smarter than a Below the Boarder...but not much. Your puny evolution in standing position scarcely disguises a distinct lack of ambition unlikely to be limited to train stations.

THROUGH THE TURNSTILES, TO THE RIGHT AT THE BASE OF TRACKS 1 AND 2:
Ah...I see what you did there. Initiating a pre-emptive move through the turnstiles but still within viewing distance of the big board provides these canny commuters with a decided advantage in train proximity (and therefore prime seat choice) over their more conservative co-commuters. And tucking out of traffic's way behind the wide goods gate shows a degree of courtesy not often found in modern train travel. If this is where you stand, congratulations. You are a sharp, ambitious mover with a caring side. Doff of the cap, sir.

THROUGH THE TURNSTILES, TO THE LEFT AT THE BASE OF TRACK 3:
You noticed that little mini-board hanging there, did you? Well spotted. Sure, it's intended use is for the station master, whose office it's attached to and sure, you're blocking the way a bit, but what the hell, you've paid for a ticket and it's a free country. These controversial commuters tread a narrow path between ambitious and irritating with, quite frankly, irritating pipping it most often. If this is your patch you are bold, strong-willed and highly, highly annoying. Now move out of the way you selfish bastard so we can get by!

HALFWAY UP THE PLATFORM ON TRACK 3:
Wow. These bad boys aren't afraid to roll the dice. Yes, they're farther up the tracks than any other clutch of waiting commuters and yes they have located another blurry mini-board...but it's risky up there. People who wait here know their train usually arrives on one of the higher number platforms...but not always. It's precisely this uncertainty, this potential for mayhem that a rebel commuter like this lives for. This dangerous game of platform poker exposes the maverick side of his personality. It's not for everyone, but these Adrenalin junkies feed off the risk and reward of such a ballsy waiting position. More power to you.