For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, Schivelbush talks about how the implementation of the train travel allowed a stronger connection between distances, in essence, the hearth of cities became bigger, and the connection from cities to cities become more common and allowed people to travel much easier and quicker. This is really important because it [the invention of the train] started to decrease the size of the country, by cutting down the time it takes to get some where it can be said that the distance has diminished. the equal and opposite reaction to this is that by spending less time traveling, the people who would normally be around each other for long periods of time would bond, get to know one another and develop a kind of society amongst themselves. When that time, of travel, is decreased, people [spending less time among the fellow passengers] became less likely to interact with each other. It can be seen especially today on a train, bus, or plane, people don’t talk to each other, and everyone is in their own world and only concerned with themselves and getting to their destination. The experience of travel evolved into a glorified elevator ride, not around people long enough to care about them. So as the country, and world, became smaller and more connected on a global scale, the smaller scale, normal interactions between people diminished; we are the closest we have ever been yet the most distant at the same time. The advance in personal technology has only proliferated the distance we keep each other at in basic human contact situations. Instead of making some small talk with a live stranger standing next to you, people will instead play on their phones to alleviate the ‘awkward moment’ of being by a stranger.