The odds are pretty good that someone on your train works is quite interesting.

For example... I happen to know that if I take a commuter line into Boston in the morning, I am likely to encounter one or more of: a senior scientist at an R&D lab, a bunch of Google programmers and engineers, a non-profit fundraising expert, or an IP lawyer. I don't know what the guy with the MongoDB sticker on his laptop does, but eventually I'll say hello and find out.

Maybe you should drink your coffee before you get on the train and try finding out who people really are.

Wow. People talk to each on the T? Never seen it.

UK: random conversation breaks out when there is an unusual delay or we get stuck at a signal set to danger. After an initial silence, someone will make a joke, and then it breaks out. Those are good delays.

I talk to the same people on the bus every day, it's been 4 months now and it's fabulous, I'm never bored!

That's a global trend, not a local one.

I've seen it, but usually they are some brand of crazy.