DISCUSS: Best Subway [Archive]

Giorgio

August 13th, 2005, 06:56 AM

ATTIKO METRO
Athens Metro
http://www.cretetravel.com/images/Athens/Athens_metro.jpg

List of the Stations:

List of stations in Line 2 (the red line)

Aghios Antonios - The current north end of the line.
Sepolia
Attiki near the train station
Larisa, near the train station
Metaxourgio NE of Omonia Square
Omonia - featuring Omonia Square, it connects also with the ISAP Metro Line 1.
Panepistimio - featuring the University of Athens
Syntagma - next to the Constitution Square, it also connects the Blue line`.
Akropoli (Acropolis) - featuring the ruins of the Acropolis, with the original statutes posted at the station, along with the Omonoia.
Syngrou-Fix near Andreas Syngrou Avenue
Neos Kosmos in Neos Kosmos
Aghios Ioannis next to Vouliagmenis Avenue
Daphni in the heart of Daphni
Aghios Dimitrios/Alexandros Panagoulis - near Aghios Dimitrios, Helioupoli and Vouliagmenis Avenue

List of stations in Line 3 (the blue line)
Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
Doukissis Plakentias
Halandri
Ethniki Amyna
Katehaki - next to Katehaki Avenue.
Panormou
Ambelokipi - near Ambelokipi.
Megaro Moussikis
Evangelismos
Syntagma -- next to Syntagma Square, also connects to the Red line.
Monastiraki -- also connecting to Line 1.

Future Stations:

Attiko Metro Line 2 (Red Line)

Line: Anthoupoli - Elliniko

Anthoupoli (New)
Peristeri (New)
Aghios Antonios
Sepolia
Attiki
Larissa Station
Metaxourghio
Omonoia
Panepistimio
Syntagma
Akropoli
Sygrou-Fix
Neos Kosmos
Aghios Ioannis
Daphni
Aghios Dimitrios/Alexandros Panagoulis
Ilioupoli (New)
Alimos (New)
Argyroupoli (New)
Elliniko, near the old Hellinikon International Airport - East Terminal (New)

Line: Panepistimio - Alsos Veikou (New Line)

Panepistimio
Exarchia (New)
Alexandras (New)
Dikastiria (New)
Kypseli (New)
Galatsi (New)
Alsos Veikou (New)

Attiko Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)

Line: Zea - Doukissis Plakentias - Airport

Zea (New)
Dimotiko Theatro (New)
Piraeus
Tampouria (New)
Nikaia (New)
Korydallos (New)
Aghia Varvara (New)
Haidari (New)
Egaleo (New)
Eleonas (New)
Votanikos (New)
Monastiraki
Syntagma
Evangelismos
Megaro Moussikis
Ambelokipi
Panormou
Katehaki
Ethniki Amyna
Holargos (New)
Nomismatokopio (New)
Aghia Paraskevi (New)
Halandri
Doukissis Plakentias
Airport

Line: Panormou - Maroussi (New Line)

Panormou
Pharos (New)
Filothei (New)
Sidera (New)
OAKA (New)
Paradeisos (New)
Maroussi

Pictures of Several stations

http://assets.in.gr/dGenesis/assets/Content200/Photo/11475_b.jpg

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295815/0/Halandri+Station+4-+External.jpg

http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication/gallery/images/tunnel/4.jpg

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/ath/syntagma1.jpg

http://img125.echo.cx/img125/4314/l2syntagma33pb.jpg

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/2658/dsc_4542.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/Syntagma2.jpg

http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication/gallery/images/stations/9/5.jpg

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/1196/crw_1910.jpg

http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication/gallery/topslide.htm

http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication/gallery/images/extensions/ilioupoli/panagoulis_020604.jpg

Subway Entrance
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295815/0/Halandri+Station+4-+External.jpg
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295813/0/Halandri+Station+2-+External+-+West.jpg

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295817/0/Halandri+Station+6-Interior+West.jpg

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295823/0/Halandri+Station+8-Interior+West-Elevator.jpg

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22632/24691/295824/0/Halandri+Station+9-Main+Concourse.jpg

The Trains:
http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication//gallery/images/train/train.jpg

Interior:
http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication//gallery/images/train/disabledpersons.jpg
http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication//gallery/images/train/newtrain4.jpg

Katehaki station seen here infront of Santiago Calatravas Designed Bridge
http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22633/30498/361577/0/Calatrava+Katehaki+8+-+The+Mast.jpg

The Athens Metro preety much doubles as a museum. During construction, thousands of ancient artifacts were found whilst digging the tunnels. They are now on display in the stations:

http://www.ametro.gr/main/communication/gallery/topslide.htm

THANKS TO GM FOR MANY OF THE PICS

Pros: Clean and modern
Cons: Unsignificant history

to keep athens metro clean interms of Drugs and in general, there are no toilets at any station. If you are busting however, you can get into one throguh the offices.

The metro is very efficient and cheap costing only 0.70 euro per single trip and 2 euros for an all day pass.

The Stations also double as museums displaying Thousands of Ancient Athenian Relics found during the digging of the tunnels.

Sonic from Padova

August 14th, 2005, 12:14 PM

London underground for me is the better!

nick_taylor

August 14th, 2005, 05:08 PM

redstone - I think you'll be suprised to know that the network runs at around 97% - thats pretty damn special

hkskyline - MTR's network is nice, but lacks the immense size other networks, have which are also larger, denser and more connected. Also Singapore offers a nicer all-round package to be honest. ;)

There's no fully automated lines in London, Moscow and Madrid.

Paris has 2 lines. NY 1

Paris and London have already a contact less system to open turnsti;es. NY, Madrid and Moscow don't eaven know what this system is.Actually thats wrong, London was the first city in the world to put in place an a full-scale automatic railway line: the Victoria Line of 1968 (37 years old now). It uses an ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system which has been implemented over the decades on other London Underground lines (eg Northern, Jubilee, etc...) and railway networks across the globe.

The New York Subway though has been lagging behind other world cities and has only just brought in this year the OPTO (One Person Train Operation) system on the BMT Canarsie Line. The Victoria Line though is just about to enter the next phase of automation with entire new rolling stock, I am unsure whether this will mean that the entire line becomes entirely fully-automatic - ie no human presence whatsoever.

That said London also has the DLR which is fully automatic semi-light/heavy rail network similar to the Vancouver SkyTrain with 34 stations (6 stations U/C, 5 stations Approved + 5 stations Proposed).

Also contactless cards, Platform Screen Door's and Electronic Display Boards are things New York seems to be lagging behind in unfortunately.

That said - London for me - the complete package of excellent + diverse station design, history, innovation, modern amenities, inconicity, size, future projects and efficiency.

nick_taylor

August 14th, 2005, 05:17 PM

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12655.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12667.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12673.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12688.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12524.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23798.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12544.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23577.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12561.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12583.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23789.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23794.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i24000/img_24257.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12596.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12547.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12563.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12580.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12697.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12701.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12692.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12717.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12714.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23675.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12468.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12445.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12474.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23771.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23797.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12394.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12373.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23672.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12376.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12515.jpg

Zaki

August 14th, 2005, 06:10 PM

^^why do all the stations look so old. I am sure with so many stations and lines london has to have atleast a few thats modern looking.

hkskyline

August 14th, 2005, 08:01 PM

London's newest stations are along the Jubilee Line extension, which includes the Canary Wharf station designed by Norman Foster.

Westminster

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4711.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4712.jpg

Canary Wharf

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4595.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4589.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4742.jpg

While extensiveness is a valid criterion to judge a subway system, a very dense system doesn't necessarily mean the system is well-used. To me, whether or not people use the system will ultimately be the deciding factor. For such a small system, the MTR is able to have almost the same patronage as the London Underground. That's not bad at all.

I relate this concept to the highway lane dilemma. When a highway is built, the first lanes will score enormous economic benefits, but for each additional lane that is added, the amount of benefit decreases - the law of diminishing returns. For Hong Kong, since the city is so centralized, having massive rail redundancies like the Underground or the Paris Metro is simply not necessary because the population is centralized. Hence diminishing returns (marginal benefit drops) kick in very quickly.

Next, I'd look at facilities, such as the use of smart cards, air conditioning, ease of transfers, and clarity of signage. Hong Kong's Octopus card is the world's first public transport smart card, launched in the 1990s. Following the HK example, many cities use smart cards today, including the Oyster card in London.

nick_taylor

August 14th, 2005, 08:15 PM

Thats because they are - some are 142 years old, dating back to 1863 such as Baker Street - the oldest underground/metro/subway stations in the world:

http://images.nycsubway.org//i23000/img_23789.jpg

Others are more modern, such as Canary Wharf which opened in 1999.

http://images.nycsubway.org//i12000/img_12445.jpg

Most stations now have Electronic Display Boards, some have Platform Screen Doors and more are constantly being renovated to include escalators and lifts to make the network more accessible to less-able users. These modern influences are infused with the historical stations of so many architectural styles that there isn't a comparable network on the planet with such station diversity. Without history, the network would be pretty much sterile and soulless which is the unfortunate result of many new stations and networks. The attention to detail at some of these old stations is absolutely astronomical.

cbrooks

August 14th, 2005, 09:26 PM

i have lived in many cities and visited many cities.

My vote is for

NEW YORK :cheer:

despite that
- it is super dirty when compared to other subways like Hong Kong
- it makes a lot of noise and torque when running
- it does not have escallators in many of its stations
- it may not be the safest train ride

BUT

- it offers simple fair. once you pay, you dont need to worry how much it will costs to ride no matter how far.
- it is the most reliable (compare NY to London which has frequent downs)
- it runs 24 hours a day :okay:
- it gives the best value of money. one can buy weekly, monthly tickets and can ride as much as one can. Tokyo is the most expensive (1 station ride costs Yen113)
- it gives many choices which train to take to speed up the whole trip
- it covers a great deal of New York area, unlike Singapore/Hong Kong which doesnt even cover many part of the city and many stations stops are too far apart once outside the CBD area.
- it is quite simple to use (compare New York to London which is so unnecessarily complicated) I can go anywhere in New York with maps in my head; however for London, due to complications, even train users of many years still doesnt know all the complicated transfers and have to rely on a map.
- it is quite comfortable to ride since it provides A/C and heater. try riding London underground during hot summer, it feels like entering a sauna. :nuts:
- it is quite comfortable to ride since it is not sardine packed like Tokyo and
the absence of those grabbing hands :gaah:
- it provides many interesting cultural and musical entertainment for free :D

nick_taylor

August 15th, 2005, 08:47 AM

Actually the London Underground is not only more reliable (ie in terms of running and actually being on-schedule) than the New York subway, but your 5x less likely to die (ie derailments, crashes, etc...) on the London Undeground than on the NYC Subway. I believe its even taken less time to fix the bomb damage in London than the recent fire started by some hobos on the NYC Subway.

Also you'd have to be kidding me to believe that the London Underground is unnecessarily complicated! There are some 468 stations on the New York Subway to the 275 on the London Underground (yet the LU has the longer network, ie average speeds between stations is higher), yet your telling me that those all those numbers are easier to name that less landmark names? Also why would regular users of the network need to require the use of a map to navigate their journey which they most likely conducted several hundred times before?

It also never gets too hot that its a sauna. It does get hot, but not on many days and there has to be the economical balance between modernisation of the network and supplying a/c. That said the network uses draught limitation devices to keep the network cool and a/c units themselves have not reached the level where they can be placed effectively into a tube train, they also consume a lot of energy and in turn cause a heating of the tunnels which is even worse.

Mojito

August 15th, 2005, 11:45 AM

I've only seen and travelled nine systems in Europe, so I choose one of them, because I cannot judge others. And then I choose London. Why?

(...)

That said - London for me - the complete package of excellent + diverse station design, history, innovation, modern amenities, inconicity, size, future projects and efficiency.

I couldn't say it better, so I fully agree with this! London is iconic. In my opinion more than any other system in the world.

Zaki

August 15th, 2005, 05:50 PM

coth

August 15th, 2005, 05:53 PM

That said - London for me - the complete package of excellent + diverse station design...
:laugh:

HelloMoto163

August 15th, 2005, 08:36 PM

what is with berlins subway??

subway (http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cityverkehr.de/staedte/images/b25.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.cityverkehr.de/staedte/b3.htm&h=480&w=640&sz=46&tbnid=D_S7EzeLhC8J:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&hl=de&start=9&prev=/images%3Fq%3Du2%2Bpotsdamer%2Bplatz%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dde%26lr%3D)

subway2 (http://ecard.bahnen-und-busse.de/fotos/s-bahn/a3l-u-bahn-berlin-oberbaumbruecke.jpg)

train (http://www.morfologi.dk/basis/files/berlin_u-bahn.jpg)

station (http://www.morfologi.dk/basis/files/berlin_rockstars.jpg)

station potsdamer platz (http://www.fotowebsite.de/4image/data/media/2/D290903_32n-Kopie.jpg)

station2 (http://www.wandlitz-online.de/bilderdienst/images/fotos/berlin/B210-gr.jpg)

prahsharp

August 16th, 2005, 02:46 AM

In the field of engineering, I truly think that the Tashkent (capital of Uzbekistan, central asia) underground is the best. Constructed after an earthquake wich destroyed almost the whole city, its quake proof (with rubber sleepers), and those crazy soviets made the whole thing that strong, and with heavy concrete doors, it can serve as a shelter in the event of a nuclear war!
The architecture is similar to the moscow underground, with heavy decorating, and each station has it's own theme, like one about space and joeri gagarin.
However, due the nuclear thing, it's strictly forbidden to take pictures inside, and in each station are 2 agents who will confiscate any used camera's ....
http://metroworld.ruz.net/others/tash_cruise.htm

nick_taylor

August 16th, 2005, 12:08 PM

London's new stations look amazing. I dont understand why UK people are always showing pictures of old garbage when they have such nice modern things too. Some peope think old means very detailed etc. but new modern stations are as detailed if not more with thought put into every aspect of the station. They make the subway from a cold dark underground place to an amazing lively beautiful place.I've yet to see a modern station that replicates the detail of the older stations. Its the same with most architecture - you don't see skyscrapers detailed like they were in the 30's, nor do you see modern buildings with the detail of buildings 200+ years old. Its the same for stations. I should note also that metal and stone/concrete is used not to create a warm environment. If you want that you use different materials which aren't cold looking, eg bricks which is what some of the older stations are made out of.

Also I wouldn't call the London Underground's historical stations 'garbage', as I assume you haven't looked at Toronto's network recently? Using metal and stones are used in

:laugh:Don't know what your laughing about Coth - There are stations on the London Underground network built in styles 72 years before the first Moscow Metro line opened! Still having trouble finding those metro figures though eh?

coth

August 16th, 2005, 12:17 PM

LOL!!! Nick - are you claiming London Underground as most beautiful in the world?

Я то всё нашёл - а ты?

coth

August 16th, 2005, 12:22 PM

Nick, i'll show you what is beauty!
Here is one example from Saint Petersburg.
http://metrowalks.ru/spb/station-1-17

nick_taylor

August 16th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Where did I say that? I said:

excellent + diverse station design

Where did I mention that its the most beautiful in the world? Have a problem quoting me on that do you? No source? What a suprise!

Ohhhh Russian! Find anything regarding metro's then?

coth

August 16th, 2005, 12:48 PM

Nick - subcontext meaning is not cancelled;)

Please in Russian.

Zaki

August 16th, 2005, 05:46 PM

I've yet to see a modern station that replicates the detail of the older stations. Its the same with most architecture - you don't see skyscrapers detailed like they were in the 30's, nor do you see modern buildings with the detail of buildings 200+ years old. Its the same for stations. I should note also that metal and stone/concrete is used not to create a warm environment. If you want that you use different materials which aren't cold looking, eg bricks which is what some of the older stations are made out of.

Also I wouldn't call the London Underground's historical stations 'garbage', as I assume you haven't looked at Toronto's network recently? Using metal and stones are used in

I am talking about a different kind. The detail your talking about is reffering to the art of the building, its looks. The detail i am talking about is the detail to lighting, geometry to make the space seem bigger then it is, environment, etc. The detail i am talking about is what makes being in the subway a great experience, not what makes it look great, though i prefer modern art rather than the old european style.

Also about Toronto, most of the stations are quite modern and look very nice. There are a few downtown that look like crap but still it doesnt represent the network as a whole. But anyways i never claimed Toronto's network is better than londons, infact i havent even mentioned Toronto, when i think of great looking subways i think of Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, etc. These are modern and beautiful.

Bitxofo

August 25th, 2005, 03:22 PM

Tokyo has got the best subway in the wholw world!!
:yes:

TO_Joe

September 3rd, 2005, 03:21 AM

everytime i see a major cities subway system map it makes me wonder why Toronto's is so garbage.

I think Toronto's suck so badly (in terms of coverage of the city -- it's actually reasonably efficient and pleasant once you are riding in it) is that it was never designed as a SYSTEM.

From my understanding, the first line built in the 50s, Yonge Street, was designed to relieve surface traffic on Yonge Street. A subway was a cool thing to have, and there was lots of cheap labour -- from Europe and in particular the Italians who emigrated to Canada in droves. A cross town line (Bloor-Danforth) and then an adjacent downtown line forming a loop with Yonge Street less than 1 mile parallel to it (University Avenue) line was formed in the 60s as incremental expansion.

But the mentality started to change in the 60s -- it was the car era. I remember seeing a Toronto master plan chart from 1966 that filled the city with expressways -- the Spadina Expressway (Allen Road), of course, the Eglinton expressway, the cross-town expressway (on the railroad tracks along Davenport), etc. -- it was like something out of the madness of Robert Moses of the New York highway fame.

Reality sunk in, particularly after the bitter Spadina Expressway fight (which was rich powerful WASPs disapproving of an expressway so close to their leafy Forest Hill neighbourhood and exerted power over the car-crazy suburban developers and middle classes). Jane Jacobs stared down the mighty Robert Moses -- so the urban redevelopment (read paving it over) political climate changed big time.

But they still weren't serious about building an actual transit system to complement city expansion. Toronto's expansion over the past 30 years was based on the car, with buses thrown so the poor carless people can get to their jobs and back.

The last time that Toronto got close to pro-transit was during the leftish NDP provincial government of the 90s who was willing to throw in funds for the Eglinton line, Sheppard line, etc. But the province was basically bankrupt (because of the Ontario Hydro nuclear reactor loan guarantees that spiralled so out of control and due to an economic recession). So much for that idea. And the government that succeeded the NDP was a very right-wing Conservative government whose powerbase was in the suburbs, exurbs and the rural areas anyway -- build roads, not cars, and so we end up with this abandoned tunnel in the middle of Eglinton and a stupid Sheppard subway line to basically takes you to Ikea (lug your non-sensical vaguely Swedish-named furniture onto the subway entrance 500 m away).

We still largely have this non-system mentality in 2005, and it surely doesn't help that we don't have a lot of capital dollars. Even when we have capital dollars to build subways or other transit infrastructure, we somehow manage to use it in the most inefficient way possible -- how can the Spadina streetcar line (they try to glorify it by calling it a light rail, when in fact it operates more like a 1920s street car line than the slick state-of-the-art light rails complete with multiple loading doors, articulation, no climbing walking on floor profile, etc. of today) cost $1.6 Billion (late 80s dollars, I might add).

And then we end up building low density North America anywhere suburbia 50 miles away -- in Milton, in Newmarket, in Whitby (even Mississsauga is now considered more "urban") -- that makes high density rapid transit pretty uneconomical.

Unfortunately, I think we are stuck with what we got, and we will tinker with it like extend the line from Downsview (with all its expected condo developments) to York University, and a few tweaks here and there -- that is all I can really forsee in the next 20 years.

I think because of the existing infrastructure, the car mentality, the infrastructure funding mechanisms, the poor management track record of large capital projects, I think we will be lucky if we can just catch up to Montreal, never mind thinking that our subway map can resemble anything like New York or London (I don't want to embarass Toronto further by comparing it with the Japanese ones).

Jutcho

September 14th, 2005, 03:39 PM

ferrariguy

September 14th, 2005, 11:03 PM

I can't believe that some people think that London is the best metro system in the world!!! What a lack of honesty, London underground is shit!! I guess those people have never travelled abroad (unless they are just nationalist, which is a possibility).

I agree with you I don't know why so many people think that London has the best metro system. It's surely the oldest and the largest thats a fact but not the best thats also a fact. When i travelled to London i didn't get taxi to my hotel because i was really excited to travel in London underground because thats also one of the one thing you have to do when you are in london. I will say even Athens metro is better then london. :)

ferrariguy

September 14th, 2005, 11:06 PM

Oh yes i forgot to say that Hong Kong has thebest metro system in the world bby far without a doubte. THERE IIS NO ARGUE ABOUT THAT.

FOLK

September 15th, 2005, 01:02 AM

Madrid is wonderfull and efficient.
London?It´s nice but is caotic..

pacorro

September 15th, 2005, 01:36 AM

Madrid is the best metro system in Europe. The best in the world? I don't have a clue, I don't know Tokyo or Hong Kong subways so I can't compare.

cphdude

September 17th, 2005, 12:41 AM

A few pic from the Copenhagen Metro....

http://www.fotofil.no/Pictures/Images/jpk0121.jpg http://www.fotofil.no/Pictures/Images/jpk0120.jpg http://www.ligro.dk/images/large_metro02.jpg http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/kob/m-station1.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/180px-Copenhagen_Metro_station.jpg http://traveling.igw.dk/photos/europe/denmark/2003_copenhagen/images/065_3_34_the_metro.jpg http://home6.inet.tele.dk/aristos/metropan600_.jpg

coth

September 17th, 2005, 01:04 AM

Madrid is the best metro system in Europe. The best in the world? I don't have a clue, I don't know Tokyo or Hong Kong subways so I can't compare.
In Europe? By what criteria? Architecture? Technologies? or something else?

Tazmaniadevil

September 17th, 2005, 03:03 AM

I did not vote NYC as having the best subway system, but the cars are cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and you can ride 24 hours a day. One thing I hated about the European systems is that they all seemed to close around midnight. And, if I remember right. so did Tokyo's and those in Russia. To me. as a tourist, those were always big minuses.

FOLK

September 17th, 2005, 04:21 AM

Efficient.

Sinjin P.

September 17th, 2005, 07:30 AM

I love the Copenhagen Subway...

ryanr

September 17th, 2005, 07:47 AM

Indeed Copenhagen's is attractive.

But my top five would be London (history, efficiency, extensive), Tokyo (high technology, extensive, efficient), Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore. New York is extensive but looses points in attractiveness.

IshikawajimaHarima

September 18th, 2005, 04:48 AM

I would name Tokyo, London, Paris, NYC as the top4 in size, passengers and history.

United-States-of-America

September 18th, 2005, 05:08 AM

I nominate NYC.

FOLK

September 21st, 2005, 12:09 AM

It´s good..

El_Greco

September 21st, 2005, 01:17 AM

London (history,extensive,character)

london-b

September 21st, 2005, 01:22 AM

London, it was the first ;)

cphdude

September 21st, 2005, 10:19 AM

I alway thought that new york was first....Not that i have any kind of knowledge about the subject whatsoever....

Zaki

September 22nd, 2005, 12:26 AM

London, it was the first ;)

being first doesnt make it the best.

El_Greco

September 22nd, 2005, 01:49 AM

^ Why not? :crazy:

Zaki

September 23rd, 2005, 01:52 AM

^ Why not? :crazy:

Being first has nothing to do with being the best. Best means better than all competitors at what it does. Sure something that was the first can also be the best but its not best because of being first. Anyways i dont believe london is in the top 3, just my opinion from riding it.

jesarm

September 23rd, 2005, 02:07 AM

For me the best underground in the world for high technology, extensive,architecture, efficient and trains sinceresly are Tokyo, Madrid and Seoul

coth

September 23rd, 2005, 10:27 AM

architecture? efficient? extensive? Tokyo? Madrid? Seoul? :crazy:

Ten

October 2nd, 2005, 05:49 PM

Bangkok metro.... :)

http://www.thaiworldview.com/travel/jpg/travel45.jpg

http://www.thaiworldview.com/travel/jpg/travel46.jpg

http://www.thaiworldview.com/travel/jpg/travel48.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/joprb/bkk01/_sub01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/joprb/bkk01/_sub02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/joprb/bkk01/003b8666.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p4db285d740589251171e2392b6f4c36e/f734af6e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p501d56fd2fa4bedbadfc43d53367af3f/f734afbb.jpg

Hollandski_KGB

October 2nd, 2005, 07:02 PM

Moscow is just the best subway system in the world for me.
Every 60 sec a train, best looking stations and perfect service.

aleko

October 5th, 2005, 03:25 AM

Lo que pueden hacer los paises con plata ...

FOLK

October 6th, 2005, 02:17 AM

Hay cosas tambien buenas en Colombia...a mejorado tambien..

FOLK

October 6th, 2005, 02:19 AM

Moscu????

kenlau13

October 19th, 2005, 02:24 PM

hk mtr subway

kenlau13

October 24th, 2005, 11:22 AM

.........

Falubaz

October 24th, 2005, 12:45 PM

para mi es metro de madrid

XCRunner

November 20th, 2005, 02:04 AM

We have the L in Chicago. Lots of nostalgia and higher ridership than any other city in US save NYC. Really, though, it's got nothin' on the systems of other cities. I wish it were better, but oh well...

fluffyhorse

November 20th, 2005, 08:30 AM

I really like the Moscow subway. It has character that the modern systems can't duplicate.

http://www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/beg/JohnStraubePhoto/TransSib/Moscow_web/201_Moscow_subway1.JPG

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/13735/dscn0230-moscow-subway-web.jpg

http://www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/beg/JohnStraubePhoto/TransSib/Moscow_web/202_Moscow-Subway.JPG

beta29

November 20th, 2005, 11:15 AM

What´s with Berlin subway? It´s not the biggest but has character! Check out this pics:

http://img491.imageshack.us/img491/5691/013schlesischekurve24kr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img491.imageshack.us/img491/1295/0504270075xa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/5225/20040108ysifranzhintergleiswan.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9183/20040627yambahnsteig9hw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5999/275447hs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/2903/berlinuheidelbergplatz14kx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/7914/hpim32648fc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/691/hpim32786yx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4738/samariterstr26cd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7489/ubahnberlinhermannplatz7fh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img493.imageshack.us/img493/1452/800pxubahnberlinbaureihehk0ve.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

seattlehawk

November 20th, 2005, 12:56 PM

I would vote for the underground train systems in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore for their efficiency and modernity. Yet, there is also something unique about the character and history of London "Tube" system that I have always enjoyed. It is one of those aspects that give you the feel of being in London, something that modern and newer systems would lack.

Jules

January 21st, 2006, 12:17 AM

NYC Subway.

JV_325i

January 21st, 2006, 10:00 PM

Wow. Those pictures of Copenhagen, Moscow, and Athens subways look incredible. I live in Chicago and that is the only "subway" I have ever been on, but it is only subway for maybe 10% of its length at the most. At any rate, I like the EL, but it pales in comparison to other systems around the world; a consequence of the trasportation lifestyle of the United States (save NYC). Too many people drive and most of the modern infrastructure built in cities reflects this. However, my sister is a huge world traveler and goes to various mega-cities at least twice a month and she says that Tokyo and London are the best in the world by far.

Skyscrapercitizen

January 21st, 2006, 10:54 PM

1 London, has it all...

2 NYC, 24 hour subways and great identity, but a bit dirty sometimes. I love the express trains.

3 Hong Kong, only profit making subwaysystem worldwide I think...

JoSin

January 24th, 2006, 10:04 AM

^^^^^Haha^^^

Manila-X

January 24th, 2006, 10:06 AM

My choice :)

1) London
2) Hong Kong
3) Singapore

Metropolitan

January 24th, 2006, 11:30 AM

Well, I complain a lot about my subway but I have to defend the most dense network in the world in here. The one of Paris, France.

Hold on a sec... :)

Metropolitan

January 24th, 2006, 11:35 AM

Paris metro is the most dense in the world, as much if you count the 200+ stations under the 87 km² of the city center or the 21 independent lines crossing it underground. By independent I mean that each line has its dedicated tunnels, something which isn't true in NYC for instance. All those are world records.

Those are about 16 metro lines : http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M02_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M03_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M03b_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M05_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M07_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M07b_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M08_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M09_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M10_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M11_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M14_17.gif
And about 5 RER lines : http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-A_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-B_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-C_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-D_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-E_17.gif

The http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-A_17.gif is the busiest urban rail line in the world with nearly 300 million passengers a year.

But enough about stats, let's show pictures !

Here is a list of "cultural stations", that's about stations which have been decorated in an dedicated way.

Arts et Métiers http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M11_17.gif : As its name has been attributed after one of the most famous French engineering school (which is located right above), the station has been decorated in honour of the Engineers. There's also a museum dedicated to science and engineering above. It's a really beautiful station, integrally covered of copper panels with portholes and big wheels coming out from the ceiling. It gives a bit the impression of being in the Nautilus submarine from the book "20000 Leagues under the Sea" by Jules Vernes.
http://blog.so-net.ne.jp/_images/blog/comment/1118357.jpg

http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/artsetmetiers.jpg

Assemblée Nationale http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif : That station is very specific as the frescos on its walls are constantly changed. It used to picture stylised heads symbolizing the representatives of the people (the station is located at the French National Assembly). Now it pictures only circles changing colours.
http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/assembleenationale.jpg

Bastille http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif : If we believe our History books, it's at the place de la Bastille that officially started the French revolution. It's been decorated with frescos picturing the insurrection against the despotic power. That station is also very interristing since it offers a view on the St-Martin Canal before it becomes underground. The station is built right above the tunnel entrance of the canal.
http://www.geocities.com/parisdepot02/2z-bastille1.jpg http://perso.wanadoo.fr/siteperso.metro/Ressources/fresquebastille.jpeg

Carrefour Pleyel http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif : The theme in here is the music, as Pleyel was a famous composer who left his name to a company building pianos of a very high standard which is located in Paris.

Chaussée d'Antine-La Fayette http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M09_17.gif : The ceiling pictures a huge fresco picturing the US war of Independence and the common cultural past shared between the United States and France.
http://83.243.20.58/Photos/00/00/06/44/ME0000064489_3.JPG

http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/lafayette.jpg

Cluny-La Sorbonne http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M10_17.gif : That station have been decorated with a huge painting "Les Oiseaux" (The Birds) from Jean Bazaine and with a myriads of signatures of the most famous authors from the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter).
http://www.planetepixel.com/images/metro_s_cluny_a.jpg

Concorde http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif : That station is covered with tiles having all one letter. If you start reading it in French, you'll realize that it's the text of the declaration of the Human Rights from 1789.
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/06/94/60/image_60946.jpg

http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/concorde.jpg

Europe http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M03_17.gif : That station is located at the Place de l'Europe (Europe Circus), and hence exhibits pictures about our European neighbours. Last time I was there, there were plasma TV showing documentaries about each country. I don't know if it's still the case today.
http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/europe.gif

Hotel de Ville http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif : That station got its name after the Hotel de Ville de Paris (Paris City Hall). It's been then decorated with a documented gallery picturing the History of Paris City Hall.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/paris-journal/tourist/metro_hotel_de_ville.jpg http://homepage2.nifty.com/paris-journal/tourist/metro_hotel_de_ville2.jpg

Louvre-Rivoli http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif : The station have been decorated with copies of sculptures and paintings from the museum of the Louvre. The walls of the stations are covered with the same stone that's been used to build the Palais du Louvre.
http://photos.aittouati.com/albums/paris/aab.jpg

Luxembourg http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-B_17.gif : The station has been dedicated to the year of Brazil in France and pictures various scenes about that huge Latin American country. As the year was ending last December 31st, I wonder if there's still the exhibition there. However, the station is still really nice.
http://83.243.20.58/Photos/00/00/06/43/ME0000064381_3.jpg

http://mapage.noos.fr/gogf/RER/RER-B_Luxembourg.jpg

Pont-Neuf http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M07_17.gif : As the station is located near the Hotel de la Monnaie (Currency Hall). That's why it's been decorated with huge replicas of coins coming from various countries.
http://www.mims.ch/img/paris/metro_pont-neuf.jpg

St Germain des Prés http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gif : That station is decorated with lights illustrating the neighbourhoods which is known for its intellectual and typically Parisian feeling. It's really a well-done work.
http://83.243.20.58/Photos/00/00/06/38/ME0000063844_3.jpg

Metropolitan

January 24th, 2006, 11:42 AM

Other stations of interests :

Abbesseshttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif : That station has been built at a very deep level because it's located on the Butte Montmartre, which is a big hill. When you get into it, don't take the elevator... take the stairs instead, it is surprisingly long ! By the way, the Rue des Abbesses is a particulary nice street, I advise you walk around.

Here is a picture of the stairs at Abbesses :
http://www.domnik.net/topoi/commons/FR/ile-de-france/paris/montmartre/04m_abbesses_metro2.jpg

Cadet http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M07_17.gif : That station is dedicated to the United States of America. And it harbours a huge American flag.
http://mapage.noos.fr/marla2/cadet.jpg

Chateau d'Eau http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gif : That station is decorated with beautiful frescos at the level of its extremities.

Cité http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gif : That station is very tall because of its depth. Very beautiful stations.
http://www.mic-ro.com/metro/400/paris-cite-nguyen.jpg http://rburgessphoto.com/ParisWeb/CiteMetrostop.jpg

Gare de Lyon http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M14_17.gif : All stations on line 14 are very well made. It is the most recent of all métro lines. However, if I insist on Gare de Lyon, it's because we can admire a garden at that station, and this even if the station is fully underground !
http://hidehay-hp.hp.infoseek.co.jp/METRO/PIC/P2023.jpg

Haussmann-St-Lazare http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-E_17.gif : One of the two most recent RER stations built in Paris. They are huge and very well illuminated. Very beautiful.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/RER_E_-_Haussmann.jpg

Lamarck-Caulaincourt http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif : That station is also located on the Butte Montmartre. Outside its Nord-Sud decoration, Lamarck-Caulaincourt has also a fantastic entrance which is surrounded by the typical stairs from Montmartre :
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/reseau.nord-sud/images/entree_Lamarck.jpg

Liège http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif : There are beautiful sceneries about the city of Liège in Belgium. Furthermore, Liège is a weird station as there as the two platforms aren't in front of one another. Indeed, as the street above was too thin, they had to build two successive stations hosting each one a single platform for a single direction.

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/siteperso.metro/Ressources/77liege.jpeg

Magenta http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-E_17.gif : The other of the two most recent RER stations built in Paris.
http://de.geocities.com/met_paris/rer-magenta1.jpg

http://www.navily.net/images/magenta_rer_e.jpg

Passy http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif : Outside the outstandin view you have on the Eiffel tower while crossing the Bir-Hakeim bridge, Passy is also interesting as it starts on a viaducts and it ends inside a hill, the line becoming underground again.

http://www.photos-trains.ch/photos/galleries/France/RATP/Metro/Intrastructure/RATP_M6_Pont_Passy.jpg

http://home.att.ne.jp/sigma/satoh/pictures/france/paris-june/metro-03.jpg

Porte des Lilas http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M03b_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M11_17.gif : That station is also decorated with beautiful frescos.

Saint-Jacques http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif : Graffitis on the walls of that stations have been preserved with glass windows.

Saint-Lazare http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M14_17.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Paris_Metro_St_Lazare.jpg
This is the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M14_17.gif at St-Lazare.

Saint-Michelhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gif : Graffitis on the walls of that stations have been preserved with glass windows.
http://phototravels.net/paris/N0029/paris-street-36.3.jpg

Varennes http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif : As the Musée Rodin is just above it, that station is decorated with copies of his sculptures.

Nord-Sud stations :

The subway network has been build originally by two companies. Most lines were built by the CMP, but the lines 12 and 13 have been build by a competitor which was known as "Nord-Sud". Hence many older stations of those lines have a specific "Nord-Sud" decoration. The most interesting of those stations is certainly Liège, even if Solférino has the interests to be fully authentic. But there are other stations which are decorated this way.

Lamarck-Caulaincourt http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif
Liège http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif
Pasteur http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif
Place de Clichyhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif
Porte de la Chapelle http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif
Porte de la Clichy http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M13_17.gif
Porte de Versailles http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif
Sèves-Babylone http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif
Solférino http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M12_17.gif (That station is the only one remaining which is fully authentic)

Typical Nord-Sud decoration :

http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/france/SolferinoParisMetroStation.jpg

Other points of interests :
The lines http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M02_17.gif and http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif are really nice experiments as they are in a big part built on viaducts. The best parts would certainly be around Barbès and La Chapelle on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M02_17.gif, and on the Bir-Hakeim bridge between Passy and Bir-Hakeim on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif.
http://blogencommun.free.fr/images/img_27794.jpg
Bir-Hakeim Bridge http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif.

http://www.louis-vital.com/images/Barbes%2065325H.jpg
Barbès station. Really a great place you shouldn't miss http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M02_17.gif.

The RER network is also very impressive, especially the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-A_17.gif. The line A is indeed one of the busiest urban rail line in the world, if not actually the busiest. Stations are huge and traffic is very dense during the rush hours.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/RER-A_Etoile_2.jpg
http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-A_17.gif at Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.

Some other photos to illustrate Paris subway.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/RER-B_La-Plaine.jpg
This is the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-B_17.gif at La Plaine-Stade de France.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/RER-B_Chatelet.jpg/766px-RER-B_Chatelet.jpg
The huge crowd getting into the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-B_17.gif at Châtelet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Paris_metro_ligne_5_Austerlitz_dsc03829.jpg/800px-Paris_metro_ligne_5_Austerlitz_dsc03829.jpg
Metro viaduct for the line http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M05_17.gif between Gare d'Austerlitz and Quai de la Rapée.

http://archiguide.free.fr/PH/FRA/IDF/IssyPepGariDuLan.jpg
Office buildings built below the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-C_17.gif viaduct at Issy-les-Moulineaux.

http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/~kitamura/images/metro.jpg
This is the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M04_17.gif at Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

http://porter.csres.utexas.edu/album/Buildings/20021126_04dx007_[Paris]_Metro_station_small.jpg
This should be the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M05_17.gif at Gare d'Austerlitz.

http://ottosenz.com/images/ParisMetro.jpg
This is the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif at Louvre-Rivoli.

http://www.alexwebsite.free.fr/weblog/images/galeries/alex/paris/Metro%202.JPG
I just like that picture because we almost hear the guy thinking : "What the hell is that weirdo taking in picture ???"

http://daryllang.com/londonparis/paris05.jpg
Bir-Hakeim bridge on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif

http://www.photos-trains.ch/photos/galleries/France/RATP/Metro/Intrastructure/RATP_M6_Bir_akeim_pont_peniche.JPG
Bir-Hakeim bridge from the other side of the Seine river.

http://www.photos-trains.ch/photos/galleries/France/RATP/Metro/Intrastructure/RATP_Metropolitain_Abbesses.jpg
Guimard metro entrance at Abbesses.

http://www.photos-trains.ch/photos/galleries/France/RATP/Metro/Intrastructure/RATP_M10_station_Vaneau.JPGVaneau metro entrance.

http://daryllang.com/londonparis/paris03.jpg
This is the http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-C_17.gif at Saint-Michel.

http://daryllang.com/londonparis/paris10.jpg
Bir-Hakeim bridge on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif and http://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/RER-C_17.gif viaduct taken from the Eiffel Tower on a snowing day.

http://kluehspies.de/content/images/c1b02900ff3b23b7584256dcd36d85df.jpg
The http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M06_17.gif viaduct.

http://www.schlijper.nl/archive/2001/07/010719-metro-arche.jpg
The http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif on the "Pont de Neuilly" bridge arriving at La Défense.

http://www.drttours.co.uk/Images/Neuroparis/Metro.jpg
The same "Pont de Neuilly" bridge on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gif but this time taken from La Défense.

http://kimael.mine.nu/blog/images/paris/metro_place_colette2bis.jpg
Metro entrance at Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre on http://www.metro-pole.net/x/M_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M01_17.gifhttp://www.metro-pole.net/x/M07_17.gif.

All the 21 independent lines of Paris Metro RER network in one shot :

http://mapage.noos.fr/marla2/all_lines.jpg

Justme

January 27th, 2006, 06:22 PM

I can't pin in down to just one, so here is my top 5.

London Underground Much has been done to modernise this amazing network over the last few years, yet it is still the most historical in the world. Fantastic atmosphere, stations and coverage. Amazing history and amazing modern sections as well. Not to mention the longest in the world, it is simply the most iconic and atmospheric.

Paris Metro The densest metro in the world, and brimming with terrific history. A network needs history in my opinion, without this it is sterile. But Paris, like London also has some fantastic modern sections as well. Great stations and atmosphere, great frequencies and where it goes above ground in elevated sections, is in my opinion, the most beautiful elevated metro in the world.

Tokyo metro Almost as dense as the Parisian network and connected to the massive suburban systems. It lacks history and is far more functional in design. But the great frequencies, large network and reliability set it in the top list

Moscow metro Without doubt some of the most stunning stations of any metro system in the world, in particular the older ones. Amazing frequencies and low costs, not to mention a pretty large network in it's own right.

New York Subway No top 5 could be without the NYS. Not as iconic as the London Underground and many of the stations appear quite "rustic" in appearance, but it's enormous size (largest number of stations), 24 hour operation and historical significance makes this a fantastic network.

There are other great networks I could add, but these 5 make my top list.

Muyangguniang

January 28th, 2006, 12:15 AM

PARIS SUBWAY FOR ME!

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3448/ratp27du.jpg

wjfox

January 28th, 2006, 12:46 AM

Metropolitan

January 28th, 2006, 05:10 PM

@Justme :

On Wikipedia, the largest system by length listed is supposed to be NYC with more than 1,000 km. I'm a bit sceptic towards that figure since I've always seen sources mentionning it between 360 km and 430 km.

I guess that the 1,062 km of NYC subway are either a total length of the 26 services or a total length of all single tracks (NYC subway tunnels host 4 tracks inside Manhattan). No matter what's the case, it's obviously not a measurement made with the same criterias as for other systems.

Unfortunately, all sources are giving different datas. Maybe some are including the the PATH system, while other don't. Anyway, do you have any reliable data about NYC subway ?

EDIT : Here is a link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_urban_rail_systems_by_length) to Wikipedia's article.

January 28th, 2006, 07:25 PM

the three best are : moscow,athens,paris in no particular order

JDRS

January 29th, 2006, 04:37 PM

I've only ever travelled on the London Underground so these comments aren't made on experience.

London Underground - Iconic, Great atmosphere, fantastic old stations and some great new ones, quite large

Tokyo - Very efficient, large, and reliable

Madrid - Small but growing fast and efficient and modern

Moscow - Great older stations, cheap and high frequencies

New York - 24 hour, air conditioning and heating

Paris - Great fronts to some of the stations, many lines and large, historic

coth

January 29th, 2006, 04:55 PM

actually Moscow metro is not cheap... 15 roubles per ride from average nominal wage in 13000 in Moscow... it is about 0,0012% of nominal wage...
New York is $2 per ride. I suppose average nominal wage is about $2500. So 0,0008%...

but it should be noted that Moscow metro is very efficient, reliable and fast. Commercial speed is over 42kph. Timetable fulfilment is 99,93%.

AndySocks

January 30th, 2006, 07:35 AM

I like my gritty little NYC subway. Although "my stop" is one of the farthest ones from Manhattan and not necessarily important, and hence a bit boring. There are unused express tracks in the middle--just in case of an expansion that never happened? I love the four-track subway system, do any other subways have that? The express F train does wonders when compared to the local R train in Queens, especially, and is a big plus for our system.

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?219:3240

Castle_Bravo

February 5th, 2006, 11:04 PM

1. London without no doubt
2. Paris
3. Tokyo
4. NYC
5.Moscow
6. Warsaw :D (1line:D)

Zaki

February 5th, 2006, 11:59 PM

1. Tokyo (with its suburban network its just crazy they built something like that)
2. Seoul
3. NYC (just because its extensive)
4. London
5. Hong Kong (its really efficient)

stanford

February 6th, 2006, 12:28 AM

http://www.tokyometro.jp/common/img/hd_lg_metro.gif

tokyo

Bitxofo

February 6th, 2006, 05:23 AM

Tokyo.
:yes:

Manila-X

February 6th, 2006, 05:31 AM

London though I prefer HK's subway stations and efficiency

Tomesh

February 11th, 2006, 12:23 PM

For me its between London & Moscow counting all factors :)

other than that a type of station design I really like is the cave style you find in Stockholm
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Stockholm_subway_radhuset_20050808_002.jpg/800px-Stockholm_subway_radhuset_20050808_002.jpg

redstone

February 11th, 2006, 12:33 PM

What's with that design? :eek:

Justme

February 13th, 2006, 07:31 AM

@Tomesh, year, I love those Stockholm stations which look as though they are carved straight out of the stone. Such as great idea, and fantastic atmosphere.

Manila-X

February 13th, 2006, 07:33 AM

The cave design in Stockholm is hardcore.

Jaye101

February 13th, 2006, 07:34 AM

Paris is amazing.

Justme

February 13th, 2006, 07:52 AM

Some more amazing stockholm metro stations with the cave design.

http://www.markthomasphotos.com/images/big/stockholmgallery10.jpg

http://www.mic-ro.com/metro/400/stockholm-rinkeby-400.jpg

http://morn.blogspirit.com/album/stockholm/dscn8604.3.jpg

http://www.artdreamguide.com/adg/adg_SWE/st_SWE/stock_st/img/_jpg/metro_01.jpg

Manila-X

February 13th, 2006, 08:13 AM

Those cave designs are really creative.

hkskyline

February 13th, 2006, 04:25 PM

I remember one of the stations I used in Seoul had the cave decor as well. It's a nice change from the typical functional architecture.

FabriFlorence

February 13th, 2006, 05:03 PM

Here is my top 6:

1. Madrid without no doubt
2. Tokyo
3. Seoul
4. HK
5. NYC
6 Moscow

JDRS

February 14th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Wow those Stockholm stations are amazing!

unoh

February 14th, 2006, 06:59 AM

seoul.......
the subway line of seoul is the 4th in the world (286.5km)
subway is very modern and clean because have been built since 1980's

Castle_Bravo

February 15th, 2006, 02:05 PM

WOW!! Amazing station!!

SkyLerm

February 16th, 2006, 05:05 PM

Metropolitan

February 20th, 2006, 09:39 PM

Madrid's metro isn't small, that's obvious. It's actually a very extensive network which is well-serving as much the center than the suburban areas. That's not the case of Paris metro system which is fantastic in the center but very limited outside of it. Anne-Marie Idrac, the CEO of the company managing Paris Metro (RATP), declared recently that the evolution of the network was 50 years late compared to the evolution of the city. Something which is completely right. Some areas around Paris aren't even served by any rail line at all, such as Thiais, Bondy, L'Haÿ-les-Roses, Clichy-sous-Bois or Stains, and guess what ? It's also the most difficult areas of the agglomeration...

There are 21 independent underground rail lines under Paris, all serving in their dedicated tunnels, I haven't realized it earlier but that's actually not far to be a record. On the 210 km of Paris metro, more than 190 km are underground. If you add to this the nearly 70km of the central RER network which is also underground and in direct connection with multiple subway stations, you get about 260km of underground rails in Paris area. That's not so bad.

The only thing we need now is to extend a bit those lines deeper in the "proches banlieues"... but I guess nothing really serious will be made untill a Greater Paris would be created.

jdooz121

February 24th, 2006, 04:01 AM

Tokyo subways

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~rmair/Japan/Japan-Images/39.jpg

SkyLerm

February 25th, 2006, 12:50 PM

Madrid new trains serie 9000
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7425/metro11vs.jpg
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2882/metro27ia.jpg

picassoborseli

February 25th, 2006, 06:16 PM

Pics of Metro Madrid. The best underground of Europe 4 sure!!!

http://www.urjc.es/version_ingles/images/metro.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/los_espartales/los_espartales_1-5-03_005.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/el_casar/pano_07_el_casar_17-5-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/el_casar/pano_02_el_casar_21-3-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/p_sur/pano_01_pta_sur_26-4-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/p_sur/pano_04_pta_sur_26-4-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/p_sur/pano_06_pta_sur_26-4-03.jpg

http://info.citruscollege.com/studyabroad/SAGallery2/gallery2/images/MADRID-RIDE%20THE%20METRO.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/99_03/l_8/paseo_l_8/pano_04_colombia_25-5-02.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/99_03/l_8/paseo_l_8/pano_04_mar_cristal_25-5-02.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/nuevos_minis/inau_ministerios_21-5-02_02.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/nuevos_minis/inau_ministerios_21-5-02_03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/images/casa_campo_19-10-02_007.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/casa_de_campo/casa_campo_19-10-02_056p.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/casa_de_campo/casa_campo_19-10-02_005p.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/inauguraciones/images/8000_en_auropuerto_9-2-02_0.jpg

http://www.mozaiekkamer.nl/site/Werkstukken/wereldfotos/metro_madrid.jpg

http://img-x.******************/95/3306695.jpg

http://www.zonezero.com/magazine/articles/saguar/alonso_mtz.jpg

http://www.tecnicasdegrupo.com/images/logo_metro.gif

Justme

February 27th, 2006, 09:55 AM

Madrid's modern rail never ceases to amaze me. This city must surely be an inspiration to the rest of Europe.

Fantastic photo's!

SkyLerm

February 27th, 2006, 04:04 PM

Wow fantastic picassoborseli :applause:

weird

March 2nd, 2006, 11:39 PM

LeCom

March 3rd, 2006, 03:25 AM

Moscow

Manila-X

March 3rd, 2006, 03:51 AM

When it comes to subway station, I like HK better. Especially the MTR station with the exception of the Tung Chung line stations. MTR's stations has a very Asian feel to it!

And in a way is very colorful!

MTR (Hong Kong)

http://www.globalphotos.org

http://www.geocities.com/kowloonphotos2003/mtr/Rimg1870.jpg

http://de.geocities.com/m_hong_kong/hk-9.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kowloonphotos2003/mtr/Rimg1875.jpg

hkskyline

March 3rd, 2006, 03:58 AM

Moscow
Moscow's Metro is unmatched in the world, with very unique architecture that makes them seem more like concert halls than subway stations.

Manila-X

March 3rd, 2006, 04:13 AM

Moscow's Metro is unmatched in the world, with very unique architecture that makes them seem more like concert halls than subway stations.

Moscow's subway stations looks like palaces but Pyongyang, though not as original and innovative as Moscow has the same concept as well.

Pyongyang Metro (North Korea)

http://www.pyongyang-metro.com/instn.jpeg

http://www.pyongyang-metro.com/hallsmall.jpeg

hkskyline

March 3rd, 2006, 04:17 AM

Moscow's subway stations looks like palaces but Pyongyang, though not as original and innovative as Moscow has the same concept as well.

Pyongyang's subway may not even be functional at all. North Korea is so isolated that there is talk the subway doesn't even work, but when foreigners visit they open sections of it to show that it may be working. The scale of architecture is much smaller than Moscow, but obviously they modeled it after the Soviets.

Manila-X

March 3rd, 2006, 04:22 AM

Pyongyang's subway may not even be functional at all. North Korea is so isolated that there is talk the subway doesn't even work, but when foreigners visit they open sections of it to show that it may be working. The scale of architecture is much smaller than Moscow, but obviously they modeled it after the Soviets.

It's hard to tell. The thing about visiting North Korea, there are some areas that are restricted to tourists.

And photos can be deceiving as well since you have pictures of a busy metro complete with passengers.

hkskyline

March 3rd, 2006, 04:25 AM

It's hard to tell. The thing about visiting North Korea, there are some areas that are restricted to tourists.

And photos can be deceiving as well since you have pictures of a busy metro complete with passengers.
Foreigners visiting North Korea are subject to many restrictions and and their itineraries are meticulously orchestrated to show the best side of North Korea. Given the electricity shortage and food supply problems, I wouldn't be surprised if the subway only turns on its lights when there is a foreign visit. In light of that, Moscow is probably the best example of a beautiful working subway system.

Bitxofo

March 3rd, 2006, 04:28 AM

IMO, Tokyo has got the best metro system of this planet.
:yes:
(I have visited by 60 metro networks all over the world).
;)

IRTEagle102704

March 3rd, 2006, 05:10 AM

After reading this, Im surprised no one has mentioned Washington DC... Its not the largest, (2nd in the US in terms of route miles, 102 i think) but its clean, efficent, has nice, but monotonous archetecture, and (i think, correct me if im wrong) can be automatically run... its also easy to navigate if your not familliar with the city (all lines are assigned a color) the only things it lacks (i think) are history (built in 1976) and character... here are some pictures...

Elevated/Ground Level Station: Cheverly (orange line)
http://images.nycsubway.org//i42000/img_42579.jpg

Typical Underground Station: L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange Lines)
http://images.nycsubway.org//i21000/img_21084.jpg

New Style Elevated/Ground Level Station: New York Avenue (Red Line)
http://images.nycsubway.org//i34000/img_34866.jpg

Train:
http://images.nycsubway.org//i46000/img_46393.jpg

Train Interior:
http://images.nycsubway.org//i36000/img_36069.jpg

picassoborseli

March 3rd, 2006, 11:21 AM

Pics of Metro Madrid (Metrosur - Line 12) at Getafe Satation:

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/pano_02_getaf_cent_15-5-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/pano_06_getaf_cent_21-3-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/pano_06_getaf_cent_15-5-03.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/getaf_cent_15-5-03_043.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/getaf_cent_21-3-03_18.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metrosur/galerias/getafe_central/getaf_cent_21-3-03_42.jpg

Madrid-Barajas Airport Station (Line 8):

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/estaciones/aeropuerto/aeropuerto_18_6_99_2.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/estaciones/aeropuerto/aeropuerto_18_6_99_51.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/estaciones/aeropuerto/aeropuerto_18_6_99_53.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/inauguraciones/inaug_aeropuerto_14_6_99_22.jpg

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/estaciones/aeropuerto/aeropuerto_18_6_99_52.jpg

Flight Information in Campo de las Naciones station (Line 8):

http://www.madrid.org/metro/imagenes/estaciones/aeropuerto/teleind_campo_naciones_1.jpg

_00_deathscar

March 7th, 2006, 05:36 AM

For pure beauty, I don't see how anyone can vote anything other than the Moscow underground:

http://www.russia-welcome.com/images/moscow2.jpg

http://studentsoftheworld.free.fr/infopays/photos/RUS/M_Metro.jpg

For efficiency and planning, one of the Asian giants: Tokyo, HK, Singapore.

hkskyline

March 8th, 2006, 04:47 AM

Moscow Metro Photos
http://www.pbase.com/e_sela/moscow_metro

http://www.pbase.com/e_sela/image/54287150.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hltam/moscowmetro

http://www.pbase.com/hltam/image/45766031.jpg

Manila-X

March 8th, 2006, 04:52 AM

I haven't been to Moscow so I wouldn't know how efficient they are but they really have some of the most beautiful stations I've eve seen.

hkskyline

March 8th, 2006, 05:00 AM

They run on 90-second headways during rush hour and even some London transit officials went over to study how they can time it so well.

Manila-X

March 8th, 2006, 05:08 AM

Well it's better to see it myself if I do get to fly there :)

BTW, does Moscow have platform screen doors installed?

coth

March 8th, 2006, 01:13 PM

@hkskyline
i don't know about hk and tokyo, but moscow officially have 39tph and 90 sec minnimum in peak hour. on really i have seen 82 seconds on serpukhovsko-temiryazevskaya line once staying on polyanka waiting and then speaking to friend for about 30 minutes. it was stable 82 seconds (83 just one time), during all those 30 minutes. however it's not most frequent in exussr metro systems. there is 42 tph in kiev. and 42 is possible maximum. moscow tryed 45 tph on zamoskvoretskaya line once in 70's, but unsuccessful. 45 tph left only on paper. on realities - very often if anyone will lock door for 3 secs on few stations - all timetable gets broken without possibility to catch it up again.

@wanch
moscow does not have psd, although door were invented in ussr in spb metro.
because from what i heard they consider them useless. plus those does not fitting into architecture. there was one station planned with PSD - Dorogomilovskaya (between Kievskaya and Delovoy Center on Filyovskaya line). It was planned to open with branch, but construction was cancelled and postponed to better times. so it will be build in future winin service. right now there are much more places were metro is more important, like some periphery districts.
2. tho

Aaron W

March 9th, 2006, 12:24 AM

I quite enjoyed using the DC Metro when I visited the city. It may not be the most expansive or the most beautiful subway in the world, but it's a nice system overall. Gets you around much of DC without too much of a hassle and it's very clean. I'm sure others have seen this site, but it's a pretty good one for an online tour (lots of photos and video): http://transit.schuminweb.com/rail/washington/system-map.asp

Metropolitan

March 16th, 2006, 02:25 AM

Typical Underground Station: L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange Lines)
http://images.nycsubway.org//i21000/img_21084.jpgWhen I see that station, I come to the weird conclusion that I actually don't like a subway without advertisement. It looks empty.

In Paris we had a large vandalizing lobby who were writing stuff on ads as a demonstration to get rid of them. The thing is that I'm probably used to them now, and I wouldn't like to see white walls all around.

Well, on that specific Washington station, that's not a real problem as the station is nice, but in a regular station having nothing special, I think it would be bland and sad.

hkskyline

March 31st, 2006, 06:47 AM

Here is another architectural masterpiece - Bilbao's subway system! Stations were designed by Norman Foster.

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bil/bil-urbinaga1.jpg

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/bilbao/fostermetro/0012.jpg

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/bilbao/fostermetro/0013.jpg

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/spain/bilbao/fostermetro/0074.jpg

Manila-X

March 31st, 2006, 06:58 AM

Mosaic

March 31st, 2006, 02:12 PM

Bilbao subway is really artisitc.

hkskyline

March 31st, 2006, 06:00 PM

Bilbao is a good urban revitalization story, but when it comes to urban planning in general, I find Barcelona to be far better.

Castle_Bravo

March 31st, 2006, 06:14 PM

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/bil/bil-urbinaga1.jpg
:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: I love this line!!
BTW: Madrid have also an great subway system (third in europe, after London and Moscow)

Bsrt

March 31st, 2006, 06:51 PM

I think Madrid is the best in Europe, and I can't say of the world because i don't know any system out of europe. And if we talk about the urban railway system, Madrid is so much better, because it has 13 metro lines, and 10 cercanías lines (metro-like system for the metropolitan aerea and the Madrid autonomic community). One of the best things is that lines don-t have more than two ends, one at each side of the line, so is a very easy using network.
Even it has some old stations, it has a lot of modern ones, and what about the trains, after 2007 everye line, except 6(circle line) and 1, and 5, would have modern trains, no one of them older than 5 years... Is a great system, and it is not small, it is bigger than Paris, but more extensive.
this is the map of the network today (only metro):
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/BasarJB/metro_02_2004.gif

Castle_Bravo

March 31st, 2006, 10:04 PM

I think that the subway in Washington DC is boring, and nothing special, but one thing is nice: when the train comes, the lights on the platforms begins flashing, a kind of warning. I'll just like it.

hkskyline

April 9th, 2006, 06:03 PM

A few more from Bilbao :

http://www.pbase.com/dreams_ad/image/35373526.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dreams_ad/image/35373532.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dreams_ad/image/35373536.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dreams_ad/image/35373565.jpg

Source : http://www.pbase.com/dreams_ad

superchan7

April 10th, 2006, 12:53 AM

London has everything. Great trains (unique to London), great history, you can even get the cutting edge by using the Jubilee extension. But I love the trains.....no other underground train can beat its "cool" factor.

Hong Kong comes a close second for being profitable and efficient, pioneering train moderinzation and platform safety, etc. It receives 2.5 million passengers a day on a very small network compared to London, Paris, NYC, etc.

Anyone know about the operating profit/loss in Japanese railways?

unoh

April 10th, 2006, 03:24 AM

sorry.....

unoh

April 10th, 2006, 03:37 AM

- NYC
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_37.gif

- London
http://www.dpr.co.uk/webpages/i/tubemap.gif

- Tokyo
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_41.gif

- Paris
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_3.gif

- Seoul
http://sstatic.naver.com/keypage/image/etc/etc/seoul_R_mo2.gif

- Frankfurt
http://www.anorg.chemie.uni-frankfurt.de/AK_Wagner/images/trains.gif

- Singapore
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_1.gif

- HK
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_2.gif

- LA
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_26.gif

- Chicago
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_35.gif

- Rome
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_4.gif

- Toronto
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_20.gif

- Sydney
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_40.gif

- Madrid
http://www.subwaynavigator.com/subway_site/img/subway_maps/couleur/madrid.gif

- Milan
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_100.gif

- Stockholm
http://www.bangladoot.se/stockholm_subway.gif

- Munich
http://phyvirtual.nju.edu.cn/mirror/nano.physik/mvv.gif

- DC
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_31.gif

- Moscow
http://metro.ru/map/2005/metro.ru-2005map-big3.gif

- Shanghai
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_10.gif

- Beijing
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_9.gif

- Osaka
http://worldtown.naver.com/files/image/subway/subway_81.gif

- Busan
http://sstatic.naver.com/keypage/image/naverservice/subway/0614/busanR.jpg

Metropolitan

April 10th, 2006, 04:13 AM

That's a better map for Paris network :

http://mapage.noos.fr/marla13/parisnetwork.jpg

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 04:41 AM

North America: New York
Latin America: Mexico City
Asia: Hong Kong
Europe: London
Oceana: Sydney

hkskyline

April 10th, 2006, 05:11 AM

Here is a very interesting and unique accessory on the Seoul metro. Gas masks! I believe it's a legacy item from the more tense moments in history when the threat of a North Korean attack on the subway system was feared.

http://www.globalphotos.org/southkorea/20050919/SEOUL03-S01-204.jpg

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 05:26 AM

Didn't Tokyo had that problem years back?

hkskyline

April 10th, 2006, 05:46 AM

Tokyo had an actual gas attack, but not North Korea-related. The North Koreans fired a missile over them instead.

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 05:55 AM

Tokyo had an actual gas attack, but not North Korea-related. The North Koreans fired a missile over them instead.

Anyway, Tokyo's gas attack was planned by a religious cult and the leader already has been arrested and was given capital punishment.

hkskyline

April 10th, 2006, 06:17 AM

Anyway, Tokyo's gas attack was planned by a religious cult and the leader already has been arrested and was given capital punishment.
Back to those gas masks. I have never seen that type of feature on any other system that I've been on. Seoul is definitely unique in having these cabinets.

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 06:27 AM

Back to those gas masks. I have never seen that type of feature on any other system that I've been on. Seoul is definitely unique in having these cabinets.

It's a good thing that Seoul is prepared for this but interesting enough that western cities don't have this kind of preparation. Especially in cities that are main targets of terrorism.

hkskyline

April 10th, 2006, 06:29 AM

It's a good thing that Seoul is prepared for this but interesting enough that western cities don't have this kind of preparation. Especially in cities that are main targets of terrorism.
Even in Seoul there are not enough masks in that cabinet to satisfy a whole train full of passengers. It's more a psychological tool to reassure users. It is impossible to make a whole system terrorism-proof. It's like forcing everyone to go through an X-ray scan when they enter the station. That's just not feasible.

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 08:31 AM

Even in Seoul there are not enough masks in that cabinet to satisfy a whole train full of passengers. It's more a psychological tool to reassure users. It is impossible to make a whole system terrorism-proof. It's like forcing everyone to go through an X-ray scan when they enter the station. That's just not feasible.

Well a CCTV is still one of the best security.

Mosaic

April 10th, 2006, 09:25 AM

Tokyo, London and NYC are the best three.

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 09:36 AM

When it comes to subway, I find HK's better than Tokyo's though Tokyo has a larger system than HK.

Mosaic

April 10th, 2006, 09:42 AM

I agree I mean I was stunned how large and complicated Tokyo's subway system is!

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 09:55 AM

I agree I mean I was stunned how large and complicated Tokyo's subway system is!

Tokyo's subway system is definitely large because of the city's massive urban sprawl.

Justme

April 10th, 2006, 11:22 AM

... maps ...

Some great maps, thanks for Posting. But you do provide some descrepincies.

Whilst some maps for some cities only show the "metro" or "subway", other's show more.

i.e. The Frankfurt and Munich maps also show the S-bahn, which is a suburban railway similar to the RER in principle. and the Sydney map is of a commuter/suburban system not a metro or subway system.

Mosaic

April 10th, 2006, 11:53 AM

amazing maps indeed, I agree.

Manila-X

April 10th, 2006, 11:57 AM

Imagine how boring these maps can be if all the metro lines are represented with one color!

Mosaic

April 10th, 2006, 12:30 PM

^^^^hehe, like noodle in a cup.^^^.I won't even look at it.

hkskyline

April 10th, 2006, 05:09 PM

The London Transport Museum has a whole section devoted to the evolution of their Underground map through the ages. It's quite amazing!

picassoborseli

April 10th, 2006, 06:56 PM

- Madrid
http://www.subwaynavigator.com/subway_site/img/subway_maps/couleur/madrid.gif

This is an old map, about 5 years ago!
Please post the current map including metrosur!

Metropolitan

April 10th, 2006, 09:07 PM

i.e. The Frankfurt and Munich maps also show the S-bahn, which is a suburban railway similar to the RER in principle. and the Sydney map is of a commuter/suburban system not a metro or subway system.RER is not similar to the S-Bahn for the simple reason that all RER lines run in specific tracks in dedicated tunnels. On the other side, all S-Bahn lines are crossing the city on the same tracks (which are even shared with national rail lines in some cases). Your idea on things are very confused obviously.

Granted that at the gates of Paris proper, lines C, D and E shares tracks with the suburban rails network, but that's only true on very marginal portions and they never share stations with those. I know you hate Paris but you have to accept some facts once in a while. ;)

By the way, there are strong chances the RER E will be extended to reach La Défense. It will take a while to build the tunnel, but, that's still good news. :)

Falubaz

April 10th, 2006, 09:58 PM

...By the way, there are strong chances the RER E will be extended to reach La Défense. It will take a while to build the tunnel, but, that's still good news. :)
will the RER E go on 'Reseau St. Lazare' through Pont cardinet, Clichy-Levallois, Asniers sur Seine, Becon.., and Courbevoie to La Defense?? or from St. Lazare direkt to the RER A tunel via Ch.G.Etoile??

Justme

April 10th, 2006, 10:29 PM

RER is not similar to the S-Bahn for the simple reason that all RER lines run in specific tracks in dedicated tunnels. On the other side, all S-Bahn lines are crossing the city on the same tracks (which are even shared with national rail lines in some cases). Your idea on things are very confused obviously.

Granted that at the gates of Paris proper, lines C, D and E shares tracks with the suburban rails network, but that's only true on very marginal portions and they never share stations with those. I know you hate Paris but you have to accept some facts once in a while. ;)

By the way, there are strong chances the RER E will be extended to reach La Défense. It will take a while to build the tunnel, but, that's still good news. :)

I won't bother debating your endless rhetoric over the RER as it is nothing more than a waste of time. But your comment that I highlighted in bold shows clearly where your distorted view of the world around you comes from.

I have never once posted anything negative about Paris on SSC. I challenge you to find one single negative post about the city, it's architecture, the people or it's transport infrastructure. Despite my constant praising of Paris, your mind still translates that into, as you put it, a hate of the city.

How mind boggling bizarre.

You must be so obsessed with your RER that you are blinded to the reality of the world.

"Yes Marge, I would like a sausage"

Metropolitan

April 11th, 2006, 03:02 AM

will the RER E go on 'Reseau St. Lazare' through Pont cardinet, Clichy-Levallois, Asniers sur Seine, Becon.., and Courbevoie to La Defense?? or from St. Lazare direkt to the RER A tunel via Ch.G.Etoile??Neither of both. It will be a brand new tunnel. That's actually the only possible solution because of the congestion of traffic.

Probably direct from St-Lazare to La Défense, but maybe with a stop somewhere. The specific road of the tunnel isn't known yet, however, what is important is that the project is already financed. Indeed, the EPAD, the local authority managing La Défense business district, has told it will finance it. :)

elkram

May 2nd, 2006, 09:14 PM

London had the first automated line. Victoria line
L'express Expo / the Expo Express opened to the public 28 April 1967, the year before the Victoria line came on stream -- its last day of service was sometime October 1972 -- although fully automated, fair organizers thought it best to staff the automatic trains with 'drivers' in the front 'cabs' so as to not freak out guests (passengers) waiting on the platforms -- it was the first fully automatic train in the world.

http://davesrailpix.com/odds/qu/htm/mwf01.htm

Cheers,
Chris

Alargule

May 2nd, 2006, 09:22 PM

I won't bother debating your endless rhetoric over the RER as it is nothing more than a waste of time. But your comment that I highlighted in bold shows clearly where your distorted view of the world around you comes from.

I have never once posted anything negative about Paris on SSC. I challenge you to find one single negative post about the city, it's architecture, the people or it's transport infrastructure. Despite my constant praising of Paris, your mind still translates that into, as you put it, a hate of the city.

How mind boggling bizarre.

You must be so obsessed with your RER that you are blinded to the reality of the world.

"Yes Marge, I would like a sausage"

He (or she?) probably meant it ironically. I'm rather sure even, given the ";)" ending that sentence.
Your interpretation is what's generally referred to as a self fulfilling prophecy.

EtherealMist

May 2nd, 2006, 09:45 PM

Boston:

http://www.panoramamagazine.com/panoramamagazine/images/mbta_map.gif

ricz

May 6th, 2006, 04:07 PM

Hong Kong no doubt, efficient, opened long hours everyday, 24hours on bank holidays; clean, modern, spacious, fast, never any delays; even cleaner or more convenient than the one in tokyo..
The worst has to be the London one, dirty, old, inefficient, delays all the time, rude staff, steaming hot, high rates of accidents but it has the history n sometimes fun to ride if its not a long journey.

d7b

May 7th, 2006, 02:08 AM

^is London's really that bad? haha
Well, after getting spoiled by HK's MTR and Japan's subway system - i feel Toronto's TTC really needs some renovations, improve the efficiency and delays, but it's doubtful given the poor financial performance

ditto for NYC, as much as i like the city.. it's too dirty!

alsen

May 7th, 2006, 07:02 AM

No doubt...Tokyo's is the best.superb clean and always on time.Sendai subway also one of da best but it's too expensive....imo
http://osamuabe.ld.infoseek.co.jp/subway/maincity/sendai/car2.jpg

ricz

May 7th, 2006, 06:09 PM

well London's one if even worse than NY..by far..lol
n u'll be lucky if u dun get some tramps beggin u for money or sit on a seat where there is no chewing gum lol

dom

May 7th, 2006, 06:22 PM

I've used all of these metro systems for at least a week a piece.

London
Pros: Its size, ease of use, historical innovation and character. The map, graphics etc are all world class.

Cons: Obscenely expensive (a 9 day NYC Metrocard when I went was the same price as a 1 day Zone 1-6+D travelcard!) and frequent signal failures. The district and circle lines. Poor coverage south of the thames. No air con.

New York
Pros: For being 24h, very cheap and fast.

Cons: Felt very dangerous back in 2001 when I was on holiday, loads of rats and leaking air conditioners.

Tokyo

Pros: Its size, price, ease of use, safety, technological innovation (felica cards), scale, and efficiency. The Yamanote line (which is imo the finest urban train line in the world imo).

Cons: Shinjuku station is possibly the most confusing place in the world for a foreigner! Should run later.

Paris

Pros: Efficient, great coverage of the city and station density. It has character too. Reliable.

Cons: Can't think of too many apart from that it felt rather edgy at night.

Moscow

Pros: The most beautiful by far. Very fast, efficient and very cheap.

Cons: Not many. The rail stock is rather old and rattles a bit (!) but for a relatively poorer country the Moscow Metro is an astounding achievement and certainly holds its own with any of the big 5.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

All of the other subway lines (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai etc) aren't on the same scale to compare with the 'big 5.' Hong Kong and Singapore were quite impressive but didn't have the historical cachet of London or Paris, the size of Tokyo or the 24 hourness of New York. They felt rather devoid of charm and character... like faceless robots. But very efficient and clean.

A winner? I couldn't say. All of the main 5 are great systems. I'm tempted to say Moscow as its such an architectural achievement, but London is home to me and it has so much charm, New York is so cheap and runs all day, Tokyo is so advanced and the Paris subway has such great coverage of the city.

coth

May 7th, 2006, 07:35 PM

I would not say that stock is old in Moscow. There are just two lines left that working only on Ezh and Em series. One line using new 81-74x series. One more lines is currently upgrading. Other lnes using 81-717/81-714 series. Not really old. In production from 1977 till present days.

me rrufsh bolet

May 8th, 2006, 05:13 AM

Well, we have to determine how we are judging "best subways" cause new york is more complex and covers a lot of ground, while many subways are new and barely amount to half of NY's size...Also, NY's subways are older

EtherealMist

May 10th, 2006, 05:51 AM

Is NYC's subway the only that stays open 24 hours?

ricz

May 11th, 2006, 12:37 PM

Manila-X

May 11th, 2006, 12:58 PM

Having been to a lot of cities' subway, I still have to say in terms of quality of the service(most helpful staff, best tickets system, value price), comfortness (air-conditioned, ultra modern, spotlessly clean, open, big and new interior of trains, refurbished and renew very often), efficiency(never any delays, trains every 1min in rush hour) and convenience(accessible in most metropolitan area, connected with all the other rail networks, shops around the station, exhibition held in some station, news being shown on screens), though it might as as monsterous as NY or London or as historical as those ones, the Hong Kong MTR definately deserves a nomination.

I believe that HK deserves a nomination but it's system isn't as large as NY or London's.

But HK's metro system is one of the best. The trains are modern, the station are well designed, clean and safe. Also, HK was one of the first to use a smart card system which is the Octopus Card.

Metropolitan

May 11th, 2006, 06:10 PM

Is NYC's subway the only that stays open 24 hours?I've heard that the NYC's subway could be open 24 hours simply because it had 4 tracks. As a result, operations of maintenance can be made one one track when trains are circulating on the other. This being said, some other networks are opened 24 hours on weekends. I think it's the case of Berlin metro.

Alargule

May 21st, 2006, 12:28 PM

^^ As far as I can tell, all four tracks are also used for night services - although rerouting trains during the night will be a lot easier than during rush hours.

ZZ-II

July 29th, 2006, 05:42 PM

i love berlin's.

ZZ-II

July 29th, 2006, 05:45 PM

berlin! not the Most futuristic but very easy to travel

Ohno

August 1st, 2006, 04:36 AM

Tokyo

Manila-X

August 1st, 2006, 04:38 AM

1) London
2) Tokyo

hkskyline

August 7th, 2006, 03:16 PM

Having visited Stockholm for the first time recently, I must say the architecture and design of a lot of their metro stations are top-notch. I'd put them up near Moscow.

More photos : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=375623

http://www.globalphotos.org/stockholm/20060514/IMG_6457.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/stockholm/20060514/IMG_6448.jpg

Spooky873

August 7th, 2006, 11:04 PM

the only major subway ive ever been on, NYC. its got alot of character to it, over 100 years of history, it covers the largest area, it runs 24 hours, a/c heat and its cheap compared to others.

Manila-X

August 8th, 2006, 04:40 AM

Stockholm's got a nice station :)

Xusein

August 8th, 2006, 05:16 AM

I have only been on New York, Boston, and Toronto's metros...

But, I have to say, New York City!

hkskyline

August 8th, 2006, 05:16 AM

Stockholm's got a nice station :)
Stockholm has many nice stations. I did a tour that night and will post more photos here and in the Stockholm Trains thread shortly.

Manila-X

August 8th, 2006, 05:27 AM

I wanna check it out :)

_00_deathscar

August 8th, 2006, 09:50 AM

Moscow wins hands down on appearance I think.

History ~ NY and London contest that one.

Efficiency ~ Tokyo/HK

Manila-X

August 8th, 2006, 09:57 AM

Moscow wins hands down on appearance I think.

History ~ NY and London contest that one.

Efficiency ~ Tokyo/HK

Moscow's station looks the best in a classical sense. But I'm talking about modernity, I kinda like the look and colour of HK's MTR stations (except the Tung Chung Line stations).

History, London is more historical. It's the first subway system!

coth

August 8th, 2006, 10:41 AM

there are modern futuristic stations in moscow as well

http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-1-16
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/line-12
http://*******************/gallery/v/coth/2005_09_10/
http://*******************/gallery/d/4897-1/hdr03-upc.jpg

Manila-X

August 8th, 2006, 10:43 AM

Coth thanks for the info :) BTW, have they installed platform screen doors in Moscow metros?

mitchikoi

August 8th, 2006, 11:00 AM

Santiago de Chile ---> Best in SA

coth

August 8th, 2006, 11:28 AM

Coth thanks for the info :) BTW, have they installed platform screen doors in Moscow metros?
No. And MM does not consider installing them. There was one station planned with PSD (previous station to station on photo), but it is postponed for unlimited time.

hkskyline

August 8th, 2006, 08:19 PM

Moscow wins hands down on appearance I think.

History ~ NY and London contest that one.

Efficiency ~ Tokyo/HKSadly, one of the most beautiful stations in New York, the one at City Hall, is now abandoned and used as a turnaround point for the 6 train. The rest are fairly functional. There is mosaic work in the tiling for the station names, but I prefer the decorations on the London Underground and Paris Metro far better. New York's stations can get claustrophobic.

London

http://www.globalphotos.org/london/20041226/DSCN4246.jpg

Paris

http://www.globalphotos.org/paris/20050414/RIMG0287.jpg

Manila-X

August 9th, 2006, 04:45 AM

Santiago de Chile ---> Best in SA

I kinda look at Buenos Aires as the best though Santiago's impressive as well.

Un known

August 9th, 2006, 03:07 PM

coth

August 9th, 2006, 03:13 PM

i think moscow is more efficient than tokyo. with same ridership as tokyo you will not see such heavy crowded station... service is once of most frequent in the world and network is very well optimized...

drunkenmunkey888

August 9th, 2006, 05:43 PM

hkskyline

August 9th, 2006, 06:15 PM

Appearance: Moscow. There are some nice modern stations in addition to the classic architecture.
Efficiency and overall: Singapore and Tokyo. Singapore has fully automated lines. Very fast, cheap and efficient. Tokyo is vast and also very efficient.
The problem with Hong Kong system is the price. It is much more expensive than other systems I have seen.
Actually, Hong Kong's prices are fairly cheap compared to Western cities.
The typical cross-harbour routes into Kowloon cost about US$1.20 while the most expensive ride is about US$3.20. Short hops of only a few stations are cheaper than US$1.20.

New York - $2 flat rate
Even if I travel a few stops, it's still the same price as crossing into the Bronx or deep into Queens.

London - cheapest Oyster fare is £1.50, cash fare is £3, 6 zones £3.50 Oyster

Berlin - cheapest short trip fare of Euro 1.20, other single tickets start at Euro 2.10

Paris - Euro 1.40

For short distances, Hong Kong's MTR is substantially cheaper. Longer-distance rides are more in line with Western cities.

coth

August 9th, 2006, 08:03 PM

why is there even a discussion about this? New York City is blatantly the absolute best subway in the world because of its extensive use of four track local/express service. All other metros in the world are shit (except maybe London, i heard they have like two lines that have legit express service)compared to New Yorks just because in order to get from a side of a city to the next, one must suffer through every stop along the way whereas in New York, just hop on the express and watch local stops fly by. No other subway system comes even close! End of discussion!
New York subway is actually among of most worst systems.

Also. Number of tracks and type of services means absolutely nothing. It's like some people compare CPUs by frequency. Do you think Cel3.6GHz perform more than Conroe2.6GHz? Last is over 3 times faster. Because frequency number is not most important. Important, roughly, is how much can CPU perform instructions per tact. So as in metro. NYC has about 4 min interval in peak hour and over 20 after the midnight. Moscow has about 90 seconds in the peak hour and about 10 after the midnight with just 2 tracks on every line...

MAD_MAD

August 9th, 2006, 09:17 PM

1)Moscow
2)Tokyo
3)Madrid

drunkenmunkey888

August 9th, 2006, 11:07 PM

NYC has about 4 min interval in peak hour and over 20 after the midnight. Moscow has about 90 seconds in the peak hour and about 10 after the midnight with just 2 tracks on every line...

Thats actually entirely not true. I take the NYC subway everyday to work and during peak hours, the intervals cannot be more than 2 minutes at worst on the major express lines (something that pathetic moscow doesnt have) but usually less than that. however minor local lines that hardly anyone uses can have what you said, 4 minute intervals. and try taking the moscow subway from the city fringes into downtown and tell me how long that takes cuz it must be agonizing suffering through all those stops. New York City express trains take you from the city fringes to midtown manhattan in less than 30 minutes. if you never taken the NYC subway before, you would be amazed at how good the express services are and if you take it often like i do, every other subway system in the world is utterly pathetic in comparison

drunkenmunkey888

August 9th, 2006, 11:08 PM

coth

August 10th, 2006, 12:56 AM

@drunkenmunkey
first of all you can't get to expresses on every stations. nyc subway has average interval 4 minutes including all lines and all service. in the rest of a day 6-10 minutes and more after the midnight.

and indeed something pathetic is moscow metro service that nyc subway and lul only dreaming about. moscow metro has average interval in 90 seconds (mostly in 70-100 sec window) during peak hour. 2-3 minutes in the rest of a day. and 6-12 minutes after 0:00
btw interval is not a time between leaving and arriving, but a time when trains passing same point, ie between leaving of one and leaving of second train.
commercial speed is one of highest among big metro systems - 42kmph. lul for example has 36kmph.

no any expresses. mm is more efficient even without them.

Un known

August 10th, 2006, 01:59 AM

Actually, Hong Kong's prices are fairly cheap compared to Western cities.
The typical cross-harbour routes into Kowloon cost about US$1.20 while the most expensive ride is about US$3.20. Short hops of only a few stations are cheaper than US$1.20.

New York - $2 flat rate
Even if I travel a few stops, it's still the same price as crossing into the Bronx or deep into Queens.

London - cheapest Oyster fare is £1.50, cash fare is £3, 6 zones £3.50 Oyster

Berlin - cheapest short trip fare of Euro 1.20, other single tickets start at Euro 2.10

Paris - Euro 1.40

For short distances, Hong Kong's MTR is substantially cheaper. Longer-distance rides are more in line with Western cities.
The prices in London are higher than getting a taxi in Russia. It is an extremely expensive city.
Moscow is much cheaper: flat rate about 40 cents.
Singapore starts from 40 cents to about 1$ for long distances.

ZimasterX

August 10th, 2006, 02:11 AM

What are we exactly judging by? Efficiency? Appearence? Prices?

Personally my take is

1. Tokyo - Very extensive metro network, modern stations
2. Moscow - Large, good looking stations, efficiency under extreeme use (millions of riders per day)
3. New York - Very large network, efficient, but the appearence of the stations marks down.
4. London - Again, a very large network of stations, (I may not be completely sure on the details here)

drunkenmunkey888

August 10th, 2006, 02:13 AM

42kmph? thats really slow... NYC is around 56kmph and well over 88kmph on long stretches of uninterrupted rail ie: underneath the east river. unless of course you mean 42mph. which is faster than NYC in some places but slower in stretches. and i know for a fact that intervals are not the same in all services and lines. to give you an idea, the G train has definitely a much lower frequency than every 4 minutes even peak hours. id say its around 8 to 10 minutes peak and 20 off peak. on the other hand, the A train runs basically on each others heals. NYC's system is a hell of a lot more extensive. moscow is nothing compared to the MTA of NY

coth

August 10th, 2006, 02:15 AM

drunkenmunkey, i was talking about commercial speed, not top.
and i would not say it's so much more extensive. mm has very well organized network to city planning. but of course route length is less. 279 to 368km. mm is just 70 years old and still over 200km is planned to build.

Manila-X

August 10th, 2006, 04:48 AM

I really wanna check out Moscow's metro system if I have the chance to visit the city.

drunkenmunkey888

August 10th, 2006, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Krasnaya Zima
Tokyo - Very extensive metro network, modern stations
Moscow - Large, good looking stations, efficiency under extreeme use (millions of riders per day)

How can you think that modern looking stations and giant decadent soviet style stations place tokyo and moscow subway above NYC? NOTHING in the world can beat express service! NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Even if NYC has the shittiest stations with no a/c that smells like homeless bum urine, it would still assrape tokyo and moscow subway. I dont understand why no SSC forumers can appreciate exactly how cutting edge express service on a subway is!!!

Falubaz

August 10th, 2006, 03:26 PM

How can you think that modern looking stations and giant decadent soviet style stations place tokyo and moscow subway above NYC? NOTHING in the world can beat express service! NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Even if NYC has the shittiest stations with no a/c that smells like homeless bum urine, it would still assrape tokyo and moscow subway. I dont understand why no SSC forumers can appreciate exactly how cutting edge express service on a subway is!!!

there are express services in Tokyo too :P

coth

August 10th, 2006, 04:16 PM

How can you think that modern looking stations and giant decadent soviet style stations place tokyo and moscow subway above NYC? NOTHING in the world can beat express service! NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Even if NYC has the shittiest stations with no a/c that smells like homeless bum urine, it would still assrape tokyo and moscow subway.
:scouserd:

I dont understand why no SSC forumers can appreciate exactly how cutting edge express service on a subway is!!!
well, as i said your express service has less efficiency than moscow metro.

Alargule

August 10th, 2006, 04:17 PM

That'll shut him up all right! Cocky New Yorkers...;)

drunkenmunkey888

August 10th, 2006, 06:06 PM

there are express services in Tokyo too :P

im not going to pretend like i know anything about Tokyo metro's express service so im going to ask, is it a legit four track line or some pathetic skip stop service? besides having the best subway setup in the world with their express lines, NYC subway cars are about the size of other city's commuter rails with volumnous capacity! and how does moscow have better efficiency? better intervals okay. but your intervals will be negated by the fact that moscow metro has to stop at EVERY station. very convenient...

coth

August 10th, 2006, 06:28 PM

ok. repeating.

mm has very well organized network to the city plan. there are no stations that could and needed to be skipped. average distance between stations is 1,8km. trains are 140 and 160 meters long (120 on three lines and 90 on light metro). mm has very high commercial speed 42kmph (with all these quick 20 sec stops). train has higher capacity plus service is very very frequent. only kiev metro has more frequent (50-60 sec on line 1).

treboy

August 10th, 2006, 06:54 PM

Alargule

August 10th, 2006, 09:25 PM

and how does moscow have better efficiency? better intervals okay. but your intervals will be negated by the fact that moscow metro has to stop at EVERY station. very convenient...

The average speed of Moscow's metro is actually higher than NY's...Instead of looking at the number of stations, you should actually look at the distance between them. The larger the distance, the higher the average speed can and will be, since trains will reach higher top speeds and have to spend less time waiting at a station when compared to the time they're actually moving from one station to another. Moscow's stations are about 1.1 mile apart on average. I believe NY's stations are about 0.5 miles apart on average, though that number might be higher when looking at the express network only.

Manila-X

August 11th, 2006, 04:41 AM

I have no idea why some people think tokyo is better than others like NYC.
Tokyo is so overratad. How can tokyo be over NYC.
Sound like tokyo is trying to grab a title of the best city from NYC. :weirdo:

To some extent, Tokyo's metro system is much better than NYC in terms of efficiency, service and infrastructure. Tokyo uses a smart card system (Suica).

hkskyline

August 11th, 2006, 04:51 AM

Station designs in Tokyo and New York are quite similar. The older stations have narrow platforms. How is the ventilation though? When I was in Tokyo it was spring so waiting for a train was comfortable. Last week's heat wave made New York's subway platforms unbearable.

Manila-X

August 11th, 2006, 06:00 AM

But isn't Tokyo's station having PSDs?

drunkenmunkey888

August 11th, 2006, 03:06 PM

How can anyone compare Moscow subway to NYC? NYC is on a totally higher plateau. And Alargule said that Moscow subway is more efficient but stations are a mile apart on average. Well how efficient can a system be if many commuters must walk a mile before they get to the nearest metro stop? Since the stations are so sparsely scattered, then fewer ppl have them a comfortable distance away, unlike NYC where most places are within walking distance of a train stop. Also, Moscow's subway looks like f*cking Pyongyang metro!!! Drab old green soviet looking carriages compared to the sleek new, Japanese-designed Bombadier carriages on the 2, 4, 5, 6, and L train lines. It is insulting to NYC's MTA for being compared to Moscow's let alone suggesting that Moscow's can be better...

hkskyline

August 11th, 2006, 03:33 PM

There is a difference between efficiency and coverage. Moscow's stations are far apart, but that's great for those living in the peripherals of the city, especially when development is decentralized. It won't take forever to stop a million times before reaching their destination. An efficient system will be able to transport people to far distances in short amounts of time. If a huge segment of the population cannot access the system (ie. because no stations are nearby), then that is a coverage problem.

Even if stations are a mile apart, the most a person is going to walk would be about half a mile = 800 m which is not that bad at all (assuming the bus is not used to bridge that distance).

Bombardier is a Canadian company. So are the New York trains designed by the Japanese, then built by the Canadians?

I've been on the F and D trains and those are not good at all, while the 4/5/6 ones are a lot newer and a lot nicer. Moscow's stations look a lot better than New York's stations as well.

Falubaz

August 11th, 2006, 03:37 PM

drunkenmunkey888 u r quite right, NYC can't be compared with Moscow metro. Moscow is one of the most beautiful, fast and efficient system in the world. NYC is cute for sure too, but don't be so childish. NYC metro is two levels under Moscow.

coth

August 11th, 2006, 03:38 PM

lol, he seems completely got drunk :lol:

coth

August 11th, 2006, 03:40 PM

drunkenmunkey888

August 11th, 2006, 03:47 PM

Bombardier is a Canadian company. So are the New York trains designed by the Japanese, then built by the Canadians?

Sorry about the inaccuracy, i heard somewhere that they were designed by Japanese but saw bombadier label on the inside of a train. But that aside, yes i agree NYC stations are dirty, old, and smell like bum defecation and Moscow stations look like palaces. One was a result of communist central planning and the soviet's attempts to show off the most decadent stations to prolong the empty lie that communism is better than capitalism while NYC was built with functionality in mind rather than decadence. whoopdidooo! moscow has better stations but NYC trains are much nicer, faster (because of the express lines), air conditioned (dunno if moscow's has a/c but lots of european systems dont), and covers a great deal of the five boroughs (yes including staten island with the Staten Island rail)

coth

August 11th, 2006, 04:06 PM

argh...

NYC trains are not faster and nicer. MM trains are. But still both lose to LUL and some other systems. MM has natural ventilation - hundreds of big shafts. Plus thousands of local systems. Only stations built in 1938-1955 was built in Stalinist empire style. Station built before and after is a result of better taste, standards and attitude to metro architecture.

As was said above - NYC metro is two levels under Moscow.

Dallas star

August 11th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Totally Tokyo

drunkenmunkey888

August 11th, 2006, 07:45 PM

ZimasterX

August 11th, 2006, 08:05 PM

sorry but what does LUL stand for?

and how are NYC trains not nicer? you think a bunch of soviet carriages that look like North Korean subways are nicer than the new R142 cars (Lines 2,4,5,6) and the new R160 cars (Line L and soon if not already Lines J,M,Z)? That aside, even the not so new ones like the R44/46 cars (Lines A,F,G,R) and R68 (Lines B,D,N) are waaaaay better than depressing drab moscow trains. NYC is thousands of time better metro in the world, although I admit, Tokyo and London are almost half as good.

A little arrogant aren't we?

I'm not denying that New York is a well known and recognizable subway system, but its not like it can be better then the others by a long shot. Personally I've ridden on the NY subway, I have to say that the stations appear to be very drab and the cars were covered with graffiti. Personally many stations in Europe and in Asia have cleaner and more modern stations. As for speed, NY is a very large spread out city, so yeah it needs faster trains.

Alargule

August 11th, 2006, 08:29 PM

New York:

http://images.nycsubway.org/i1/img_890.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org/i32000/img_32000.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org/i8000/img_8174.jpg

Moscow:

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/mos/pix/L2_mayakovskaya.jpg

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/mos/pix/L5-kievskaya.jpg

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/mos/pix/L5-taganska3.jpg

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/mos/pix/L5-komsomolskaya.jpg

New York:

http://images.nycsubway.org/i2000/img_2950.jpg

Moscow:

http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/mos/pix/vendox-10.jpg

New York's last major finished construction project was the 6th Avenue Subway line, completed in 1940(!). Moscow's construction did only just begin by then, and major construction works have been going on until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The only advantage NY's system has over Moscow's, is that it is rather dense. But that's about the only advantage I can think of: frequencies are being lowered by the MTA, services cut back (notorious is the G line), the Lexington line has been overcrowded for years but the alleviating Second Avenue Subway line has been nothing but a pipe dream for the last 80 (!) years.

Yeah...NY is definitely better than Moscow. If you believe in your own lies, that is...;)

Aokromes

August 11th, 2006, 10:05 PM

New York:

http://images.nycsubway.org/i1/img_890.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org/i32000/img_32000.jpg

http://images.nycsubway.org/i8000/img_8174.jpg

That photos are from abandoned metro stations no?

Alargule

August 11th, 2006, 10:49 PM

Nope. Broadway (on the G line), Canal Street (J, M, Z) and Times Square (1, 2, 3) are all in use. Broadway is even considered a safety hazard due to sewage water dripping from the ceiling onto the platforms. Yeah, NY is really swell...

coth

August 11th, 2006, 11:05 PM

even if cute off Stalinist empire stations from comparison

here is usual examples of 60's
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-13
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-14
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-15
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-11-1
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-11-3
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-6-13
etc etc etc

usual examples of 70's
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-8
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-9
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-10
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-7-11
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-2-9
etc etc etc

usual examples of 80's
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-2-16
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-2-18
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-2-19
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-2-20
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-6-14
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-8-2
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-8-3
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-8-4
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-8-5
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-8-6

usual examples of 90's
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-1
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-2
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-3
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-4
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-5
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-7
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-9
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-10-10
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-1
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-2
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-3

usual examples of 00's
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-23
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-24
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-9-25
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-1-16
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-3-13
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-12-1
http://metrowalks.ru/moscow/station-12-4
http://*******************/gallery/v/coth/2005_09_10/

and currently u/c
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=325343

even centipede and surface stations of Khrushchev's era of 50's and 60's are looks like palaces comparing to NYC stations...

Alargule

August 11th, 2006, 11:17 PM

sorry but what does LUL stand for?

According to the Dutch-English dictionary:

1.LUL [m] (obscene) insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous.
Synonyms
son_of_a_bitch prick asshole cocksucker shit mother_fucker motherfucker mother SOB dickhead whoreson
Related terms
usage obscenity
Type of unpleasant_person

Seems to refer to you then...:D

(no, it really stands for London Underground Lines)

drunkenmunkey888

August 11th, 2006, 11:21 PM

drunkenmunkey888

August 11th, 2006, 11:25 PM

okay alargule, you just crossed the line. never once did i insult anyone personally. i just think it is ridiculous for people to be comparing NYC subway to other networks that are nowhere close to how good NYC is. I dont understand why anyone bothers to make this thread since deep down inside, we all know its NYC

ZimasterX

August 11th, 2006, 11:34 PM

crossbowman

August 12th, 2006, 12:51 AM

since deep down inside, we all know its NYC

The question is how deep down inside is that... :no:

garpie

August 12th, 2006, 12:53 AM

@drunkenmunkey888:

<<nationalism/regionalism/excesive proudness of one's homeland.... is an illness that heals up by travelling>>

NYC subway is fantastic, as are many other networks in the world. For sure its continuous-24H-service may give some edge to it, as well as express services; but you seem a bit obsessed in trying to prove NYC subway's ten-fold efectiveness over ROW's metro systems. There's life to the east of Long Island too.

Un known

August 12th, 2006, 12:19 PM

Actually the fact that the stations in Moscow are quite far apart is not a problem because most districts were built around metro stations. Most new projects are also located near metro stations. So most people will live within about 2 km from metro stations which is not far at all.

coth

August 12th, 2006, 11:11 PM

that picture of the graffiti filled M train is WAAAAY OUTDATED!! it was like from back in the 80's. Currently, I have not seen a single train with a speck of graffiti on it. Check out how the M train looks right now! (http://nycsubway.org/perl/show?50283). Now compare that to your Moscow train. Youre just intent on spreading false propoganda by taking a shitty NYC train from the 80's and comparing it to a newly built Moscow train. But now you see how NYC trains are currently. Moscow's trains are pathetic in comparison. For more information check out http://www.nycsubway.org
with graffiti or not still nyc trains are very hideous. no taste at all.

MM trains are much better.

E types
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_ej/ej_5324_vg.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_em508_em509/em508_6015.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_em508_em509/em508_3953.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/moscow/04_filevskaya/peregon/fl_kuntsevskaya_molodezhnaya_2006-06_03.jpg

81-710/81-714 with modifications
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_nomernoy/01_sokolnicheskaya/nomernoy_2696_krasnoselskaya.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_nomernoy/10_lyublinskaya/nomernoy_1593_02.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_nomernoy/10_lyublinskaya/nomernoy_1600_01.jpg

81-720/81-721
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_yauza/yauza_serial_first_day/yauza_serial_first_day_2005-03-23_04.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_yauza/yauza_serial_first_day/yauza_serial_first_day_2005-03-23_07.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_yauza/yauza_serial_first_day/yauza_serial_first_day_2005-03-23_05.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_yauza/yauza_serial_first_day/yauza_serial_first_day_2005-03-23_02.jpg

81-740/81-741
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/moscow/04_filevskaya/peregon/fl_pionerskaya_kuntsevskaya_2006-05_03.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/moscow/04_filevskaya/peregon/fl_pionerskaya_kuntsevskaya_2006-05_02.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/moscow/04_filevskaya/peregon/fl_kuntsevskaya_molodezhnaya_2006-06_02.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/moscow/04_filevskaya/peregon/fl_pionerskaya_kuntsevskaya_2006-05_06.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_skif/butovskaya_2004/skif_2004-01_01.jpg
http://trehgranka.metro.ru/images/vagon/vagon_skif/butovskaya_2003/skif_2003-12-30_02.jpg
http://*******************/gallery/d/1267-1/pict0002.jpg