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As Karen Christensen prepares to head to China - first speaking about how civilizations learn from one another, and then exploring third places in Shanghai - she and Matt Silber discuss the social life of public transit. They draw from experiences in different countries and times, and explore how train travel is both a chance to interact with strangers and, sometimes, a way to develop the warm bonds with regular acquaintances that typify a third place.

Read more about third places at The Great Good Place.

Train Time is a media project focused on passenger rail’s potential for making the world a better place. Please support us with a paid subscription or sponsorship.

Music on the Train Time podcast comes from Two Bit Cowboys.

Get full access to Train Time at traintime.substack.com/subscribe