100% agree about having headphones or buds in with nothing playing.

I second having metro mpd saved on her phone to text. I have it pinned to the top of my text messages so it’s easy to get to. In my experience, the respond quickly.

100% agree with sitting in the first car near the conductor is the safest place.

This is advice to everyone - when you see another person engaging in a weird creeper conversation, if you feel comfortable: approach them and say to the victim something like “oh hey there! How random is it meeting up on the train like this. It’s been what, a few years? Do you want to catch up? Let’s go chat.” The person should pick up on what’s happening and get up to join you. Then proceed to the opposite end of the creeper. Get off at the next stop and change cars and report it to metro mpd. I’ve had to do this twice and was thank profusely each time.