Subway (mass transit) systems
Dec 17, 2019, 10:43 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2012
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I'm having one of those FT days where everything I ask or post really makes me look completely incompetent. *sigh*
Dec 17, 2019, 12:39 pm
#79
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Dec 17, 2019, 2:51 pm
#80
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Wasnt surprised about Vienna's omission from the responses (with only a few passing mentions). It's the best but also most underrated system in the world:
1. Extremely good value. Basically 1$/day for annual pass covering all modes of transport in main zone (which is basically all the residents)
2. Frictionless use - no barriers or turnstiles anywhere. A huge consideration IMO
3. Very high general standards (modern, clean, etc) for the stations and the equipment. With a few (clean!!) historic trams mixed in
4. Some station with good historic and artistic value
5. High punctuality, coverage, and capacity - rarely a sardine situation, and definitely nothing like the London/NY/Paris rushhour situation
6. Virtually no beggars or buskers, despite #2
7. Also extremely safe - no risk of theft like the Barcelona of the world
8. Easy access to airport. Additional $2 on top of standard fare
I could go on and on but for me it's a runaway victor
1. Extremely good value. Basically 1$/day for annual pass covering all modes of transport in main zone (which is basically all the residents)
2. Frictionless use - no barriers or turnstiles anywhere. A huge consideration IMO
3. Very high general standards (modern, clean, etc) for the stations and the equipment. With a few (clean!!) historic trams mixed in
4. Some station with good historic and artistic value
5. High punctuality, coverage, and capacity - rarely a sardine situation, and definitely nothing like the London/NY/Paris rushhour situation
6. Virtually no beggars or buskers, despite #2
7. Also extremely safe - no risk of theft like the Barcelona of the world
8. Easy access to airport. Additional $2 on top of standard fare
I could go on and on but for me it's a runaway victor
Dec 17, 2019, 3:08 pm
#81
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https://qz.com/1684752/viennas-subwa...apy-on-trains/But I think you are mainly noticing how obedient and relaxed the city and population of Vienna is.
Dec 17, 2019, 4:31 pm
#82
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I have used that transport many times, even though I think it is mostly above ground, no? At least most of my stations were above ground. It is nice and easy, but not so large and not without controversy. https://qz.com/1684752/viennas-subwa...apy-on-trains/
But I think you are mainly noticing how obedient and relaxed the city and population of Vienna is.
https://qz.com/1684752/viennas-subwa...apy-on-trains/But I think you are mainly noticing how obedient and relaxed the city and population of Vienna is.
I really detest the full height turnstiles in NY that feels like prison, or the barriers elsewhere with finnicky ticket readers that causes a traffic jam
Dec 17, 2019, 6:30 pm
#83
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 142
I have only personally travelled on about 30-40 major subway systems so I might not have the greatest experience but I find it staggering that a city like London does so well on many counts (signage, maps, payment methods) but completely fails compared to other cities on others (e.g. air conditioned carriages and evaporative platform cooling compared to Buenos Aires, only just introducing night tube in the fricking 21st century, etc.)
Dec 17, 2019, 6:31 pm
#84
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Dec 17, 2019, 9:56 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Favoriate: HONG KONG by far! To me, nothing comes close (mind you, there's a lot of subway systems I'm not familiar with and I've yet to have been to China or Russia). Routes/coverage are perfect, stroller-friendly, clean. Transfers are always very short and easy (note that HK station and Central are 2 different stations!). Octopus is very easy to handle. Admiralty gets crazy during rush hours, but it's surprisingly manageable because trains come every minute and commuters are way more laidback and yielding than in Tokyo, for example.
Worst: Bart. So expensive. Confusing (my experience below)
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29638863-post38.html
Honorable mention: Although I don't like Boston's subways (I don't like subways in general), I'd like to express my appreciation for Boston's D-line. I love that it's an above-ground trolley that zips through the woods without being stopped by traffic lights, love the neighborhoods it runs through, its mature and diverse ridership.
Worst: Bart. So expensive. Confusing (my experience below)
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29638863-post38.html
Honorable mention: Although I don't like Boston's subways (I don't like subways in general), I'd like to express my appreciation for Boston's D-line. I love that it's an above-ground trolley that zips through the woods without being stopped by traffic lights, love the neighborhoods it runs through, its mature and diverse ridership.
Dec 18, 2019, 3:51 am
#86
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Dec 18, 2019, 4:54 am
#87
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York/ DC
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I have never been to Taipei but I’m going to now ! You said all of the magic words. I’m here for the weather of course and the setting.
Dec 18, 2019, 9:12 am
#88
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
Favorites in the current era:
Systems I admired for their precision: Moscow and Washington. I loved the Moscow stations and the fact that they ran on-time to the second. (Not sure if this is still true - my visits there were in the 90s.) Washington Metro was the pride of US systems for a long time but I understand it's fallen into disrepair in recent years. Since the advent of Uber/Lyft, I haven't used this system much on my trips to DC.
Systems I admired for their precision: Moscow and Washington. I loved the Moscow stations and the fact that they ran on-time to the second. (Not sure if this is still true - my visits there were in the 90s.) Washington Metro was the pride of US systems for a long time but I understand it's fallen into disrepair in recent years. Since the advent of Uber/Lyft, I haven't used this system much on my trips to DC.
Now the metro is much bigger.
There are some modern style stations.
Dec 18, 2019, 9:25 am
#89
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
And let's remember, the Moscow Metro is probably the only sure way to get from point A to point B. On the surface you'll get stuck in traffic that competes with the worst of them. No wonder that most addresses also include the nearest Metro station as well. I haven't been there in a while, so I'm not sure if they still have the 60's-70's style carriages - those are just too old.
So while I wouldn't vote for the Moscow metro as the best in the world, but surely Moscow would just grind to a total halt without it.
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So while I wouldn't vote for the Moscow metro as the best in the world, but surely Moscow would just grind to a total halt without it.
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However some of them still from 80's-90's.
Dec 18, 2019, 9:38 am
#90
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I guess the reason is the bigger the city the more people who will try to ride for free. Paris is a big city too, but the turnstiles can be easily bypassed by agile cheaters. The authorities in Paris seem to regard it as a socialistic measure to not block people who exert the effort required to jump over the turnstiles. It is the same in Marseille.