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Best Underground Transit In the World Is...
...apparently London's, but this is a list compiled by Virgin, a British company, so go figure. Anyone who has ever spent more than two seconds in London's tube during rush hour must question their sanity.
Don't get me wrong, I think London has a great and extensive subway system but during rush hour it is a nightmare - packed and no air-con. Plus, it costs 4GBP (about $8) for a single ride, unless you buy an Oyster Card, their version of a pass which is well-worth it but still very expensive.
Anyway, here is Virgin's Top 11 Underground Transit Systems in the World:
- London
- Paris
- Moscow
- Madrid
- Tokyo
- Seoul
- New York
- Montreal
- Beijing
- Hong-Kong
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
Out of all of these, my vote goes to the Paris and Hong-Kong subway systems. New York's is relatively cheap ($2) and easy to navigate, but geez, it looks, smells and operates like something from a third world country!
Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, South America
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scribetrotter Aug 9th 2007 3:06PM
Clearly the person who put the list together didn't actually RIDE the Moscow subway, and certainly not at rush hour... it is stunningly gorgeous, no doubt about that, especially if you're keen on revolutionary art. For that alone it is worth a visit.
But many (most, I think) stations have little or nothing written in other than the Cyrillic alphabet and if your Russian is poor or non-existent, finding your way around can be a nightmare. I still remember spending hours going around in circles and ending up where I started, despite being with a Polish friend who spoke some Russian.
At rush hour, escalators run at least twice as fast as those in other cities. A huge crowd packs the top of the escalator, funneling itself into one thin string of humanity, at high speed. If you miss your footing or skip the rhythm, you may be as good as dead.
So yes, Moscow, but not at rush hour or without a detailed itinerary.
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jc Aug 9th 2007 5:26PM
After being shut down from the 3inches of rain--yet again--yesterday, New York shouldn't even be anywhere close to the top 10.
Subwayfan Aug 9th 2007 11:20AM
Operates like something from a third world country??? How so???
Iva Skoch Aug 9th 2007 11:35AM
The NY subway system certainly doesn’t indicate that you are in possibly the most developed economy in the world. The trains are old and really loud. Escalators don’t work about 50 percent of the time. Women with strollers? Wheelchairs? Good luck. Locals can't even understand the announcements, how can tourists? Trains get canceled/rerouted all the time. There is no schedule...you just sort of "wait for trains to show up", kind of like you do in third world countries. In Manhattan, this tends to work OK because the trains run frequently enough but if you venture out into the boroughs, you can wait for a really long time only to find that the train is simply not operating.
I love the subway in New York, don’t get me wrong. All I am saying is that it is not one of the best systems in the world and it is not for the faint of heart.
Paul Aug 9th 2007 12:00PM
It's funny, but Los Angeles probably has the cleanest and fastest subway system anywhere. Granted, that's because it doesn't go much of anywhere and nobody rides it, but if you're fortunate enough where it's convenient for you, it's a dream come true. There's always a seat and it looks brand new.
Rob Aug 9th 2007 1:32PM
I'm surprised Taipei's subway system isn't on there. It's the cleanest subway I've ever been on - eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not permitted. (I almost got a ticket once)
The prices are cheap (max to around $2), the stations are extremely spacious, and the trains always run on time. Even during rush hour, there's room to stand and air conditioning everywhere. Plus, it's still expanding!
Trampy Jane Aug 9th 2007 3:02PM
My husband and I recently spent some time in Hong Kong are were very impressed with the subway system. Especially if you are taking it to the airport. Central station allows for early check-in for most airlines, allowing you to leave your bags with them while you tramp around the city on your final day.
Trampy Jane - http://www.magellanschild.com
rvn Oct 1st 2007 12:55AM
The only list New York subway should be on is the worst subways in the world, right at the top of the list.
I mean, it sux balls and smells like ass. Don't even want to mention the looks.