Workers on the Tracks

On an overcast day near the train I was on, four men wearing hi-vis vests were busy repairing something on the ground. They worked in the shadow of a large container that stood on brick lined pillars, with a wall behind providing further support. While one man worked diligently, the other three were huddled together, engrossed in a phone.

It was a scene that spoke to the modern age – even while carrying out manual labour, these workers were still connected to the digital world, using a phone to communicate, check messages or browse social media. Or just doss off while someone else does the work …