Beijing Metro Line 13 2004. Dalian light rail 2017 [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

Moving fast forward to today, the situation has become so different, indeed almost unrecognizable. Now, before leaving Tianjin, for example, I would first check on mobile apps about ticket availability. At the station, with many people often buying tickets on-line or using self-serve ticketing machines, queues are both small and orderly. It recently took me five minutes to purchase one, with service both pleasant and efficient. Indeed I was soon in a cafe in the basement departure hall, working away on my tablet computer!