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10 Reasons London's Tube is better than the NYC Subway
I'm a New Yorker. I spend plenty of time on the subway. At present, I'm in London, and I just can't help but notice the staggering differences between the Tube and the MTA. Frankly, there is a lot we could stand to learn from the masterminds behind the Tube. I'm writing this from the UK, so as not to incur bad subway karma (you know, when you have a series of just-missed-the-train experiences) in New York. Someone, please put this into the hands of an MTA official -- and tell them to give me a call next time they want to hike up the fare.
10 Reasons London's Tube is Better than the NYC Subway
1. Full maps in the stations. Not decaying.
2. Lack of rats.
When I asked around, Londoners did admit to having seen a rat once or twice during their voyages. I don't think they understand that it's a daily experience for New Yorkers. Don't tell!
3. Cushions.
A subway seat is a hard-won prize. The padding the Tube offers is icing on the cake. There are even padded spots to lean on.
4. Seat dividers.
Speaking of the seats, not only are they padded, but in many cases, actual armrests are provided between individual seats. In the rare cases that they're not,the cushions are separate. Finally, a way to know where, exactly, to sit, and how much space one ought to take.
5. Train times on screens.
In New York, it's just the L. In London, quite a few Tube stations, particularly in Central London, have screens telling you exactly when the next train is coming, and where that train's headed. This is helpful information, people.
6. Signage.
The signage in London is better than New York's by at least a thousand large points. First of all, in New York, when you want to see where your train is headed, you have to seek out some dodgy, dilapidated-diorama-framed paper on a post in the station. In London, when choosing East or West, North or South, a sign with all the forthcoming stops in either direction is provided in an easy-to-read, clear manner.
7. Signage 2.
Secondly, unlike in NYC, when broke-ass peach printed signs tell you that the C's not running and they don't necessarily make any sense, and then the C shows up, the Tube offers you a full map of every portion of the railway that's under construction, with clear directions for detouring any problems. These are universally up to date -- as though it's someone's job to let the public know their train is or isn't running. Imagine that.
8. Announcements.
It's like a revelation. Every announcement made is totally understandable. A recorded voice declares the stop and next stop to passengers in a crisp British accent, and there are no questions. Even changes to service and other station announcements are easy to hear. In New York, "Fourteenth Street, stand clear of the closing doors" often sounds like "Fotinsti. Stankle."
9. Attractions.
The announcements aren't limited to just station names. The Tube makes itself extra tourist-friendly by announcing major attractions at each stop. NYC really only does this for Rockefeller Center and Ground Zero. And, as I mentioned, you can't really understand them.
10. Fewer ads, more maps.
I hear you, Dr. Zizmor, I do, and I know you could do amazing things for my skin, but I just want to verify my train's route. I can't deal with you right now. Frankly, NYC's subway maps are usually old, damaged, or not there. On the trains, display cases are packed with ads and the one-per-car subway maps are often damaged or covered in graffiti. Not helpful.
So, good job, London. You win this one. But don't get me started on food.
This trip was paid for by VisitBritain, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.
Filed under: Europe, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave Zatz Jan 30th 2010 10:47AM
Think London is good, wait 'til you see Munich.
Chris Jan 30th 2010 11:35AM
While I've never been to either city and therefore haven't experienced either train system, I must ask this. Is the condition of London's facilities better because their transit authority takes better care of the station, or are Londoners less willing to deface public property? It sounds like the problems in New York stem from New Yorkers.
Flame if you want, but I'd actually to hear an intelligent response as well.
gabby Jan 30th 2010 12:30PM
ny'er here. we cant blame (all) the residents of the city for the horrible service, the system itself is old- its aged, and it shows. this post took into account all the underground stations, a large part of train system in nyc runs above ground as well, and those stations are by far cleaner, safer and easier to navigate.
acetracer Jan 30th 2010 10:26PM
Germany's U-Bahn and S-Bahn are ok, but for my money Europe's best designed and maintained metro is Barcelona. Paris is the best metro overall, as far as coverage.
Glenn Jan 30th 2010 12:17PM
Tokyo ain't too shabby either. Stations have electronic boards telling you how many minutes until the next couple of trains come, and whether they're express or not. Signs and ticket machines are in Japanese and English. Electronic readers on most subway cars not only show stops, but also which side of the train doors will open on, which car in the (long) train you are on, and where your car will be in relation to exits at the next station. And of course cars are clean and have clear announcements in Japanese and English.
alex Jan 30th 2010 1:50PM
tokyo, and actually the entire rail system in japan is so easy to understand, a bunch of college freshmen with little to no japanese speaking skills at all had no problem going anywhere in the entire country at whim
RG Jan 30th 2010 11:47PM
Reason #11: the musicians who perform in Tube stations are really, really good.
Annie Scott Jan 31st 2010 4:16AM
AND, they've got those clearly marked spaces to perform. Love it.
Erica Jan 30th 2010 7:03PM
New Yorker here...sure our subways are gross, but we do have one MAJOR advantage over the Tube. You may not realize it since you're there in January, but the Tube is not air conditioned. Think about how hot and nasty the NYC subway platforms are in the summer, and then think about being stuck on a train with the same hot, sweaty conditions. Gross.
Kim Jan 30th 2010 9:57PM
Agree with the above - and do you really want to know what is in those cushions (some research as been done - do a websearch)? Give me plastic any day...
greta Jan 30th 2010 10:13PM
I live in NYC, but I used to live in London, so I've commuted on both subway and tube many times. Several of your points are valid (especially about the signs that tell you when trains are coming - DC has them too, and I hope that NYC will someday - they've added it to one line recently), and I do miss some things about the underground.
However, just a few notes: I actually hated the padded seats on the tube - they really grossed me out because you never know who was sitting there before - I sat on at least one wet seat while living there - ick. And NYC has a major benefit over the tube with express trains - it took a little while to get used to when I first moved here, and I'm sure it's confusing to tourists, but they are awesome.
And don't forget the subway is open 24 hours - the tube is not. That can lead to more vandalism etc. in the subway, but it's handy. People who haven't been to NYC have visions of a dilapidated and dirty subway, but most of the lines have brand new cars, so for the most part the subway is really clean.
And the subway is also wider than the tube, so there's more space in the cars.
Kate Paulin Jan 31st 2010 6:28AM
Spot on Ms. Scott! Though as a Londoner at the moment, let me just say that Air Conditioning is a beautiful thing that I would gladly take on a Summer day over all the above perks, but I guess that's why I am a cycler now anyway! Oh and I kinda miss the NYC rats.
Jeffrey Jan 31st 2010 9:32AM
NYC's runs 24 hours. Game over.
otherwise:
1. There are full maps in stations, just not once you go through the turnstyles. They are also in every car.
2. Fair enough. But rats don't bother me, so I barely even notice anymore.
3. Cushions that 10,000 people have farted and who knows what else into? No thanks! That plastic bench is comfy enough.
4. Again, fair enough. Though long benches do allow you to fit in more people if they're all skinny.
5. Yes. We know. They're coming (Eventually? Maybe? Hopefully?) But this is a definite flaw.
6. Uptown or downtown. Manhattan-bound or Brooklyn-bound. You don't have to know neighborhoods or anything else to at least head in the right direction.
7. Yes,this is not ideal, but we also have the express track system, meaning that trains can just skip certain stations, rather than shutting down *whole lines* for days, like they do in London, effectively stranding people.
8. These are getting better on the trains. Hopefully everywhere else soon.
9. Again, fair enough. but all it takes is having a map to know this anyway.
10. Damaged or covered in graffiti? Have you taken the train since 1988? Also, they're never incomplete. In fact, the entire system map is in every car. And it's to scale, so I actually know how far apart everything is.
And, like I said, 24 hours. So no, London. You don't win this one.
Simon Feb 1st 2010 8:51AM
Hardly convincing. There are plenty of rats on the underground. Announcements on the underground can also be very random. So it basically comes down to maps and cushions. You probably don't have so many strikes in New York either.
JSM Feb 1st 2010 10:55AM
Hasn't anyone ridden DC's Metro. It has all the qualities (except the occasional unintelligible conductor) that are referenced in this list. Furthermore it has both Air Conditioning and Heat, and doesn't allow those annoying performers on the trains. Its a world class system.
My only complaint is that it doesn't run 24-hours, but I wouldn't trade it for MTA or the Tube.
sarahnyclondon Feb 1st 2010 4:07PM
I have two phrases for you: Planned Engineering Works and Rail Replacement Bus Service. Weekend travel in Londontown can be excruciatingly frustrating. I wholeheartedly agree with above comments regarding hours of operation, narrowness of the cars, lack of express trains and A/C, and I can also verify the presence of rats in London. Win for the MTA, though I never thought I would type those words!
G Feb 18th 2010 3:57AM
The tube will never win against the MTA. MY NEW YORK subway system is reliable 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year....may it be a scorching summer or a winter storm, it has taken me to where I needed to go. Fine, we have rats, grafittis here and there. These are mere flaws but remember the objective of public transportation:
To get from point A to point B.
Why do you need padded seats (which btw is sooo disgusting)? Is your commute that long that your bum starts to blister? come on now!
Sylvia Feb 28th 2010 2:43PM
I've been to New York recently and I was appalled by the subway system. I'd heard it wasn't too good..but I didn't expect such a thing. I hated it and not because it's old and dirty...service isn't good at all. Trains don't come as often as in London, there is no signs/screens of when the next train will be (?!?!). No free maps and the maps you have, the train letters/numbers are hardly visible. Yeah, you have the uptown/downtown but at first (for a tourist, I mean) it's easy to get lost. I hate the idea of different entrances depending on the direction, the signs for which line is in which track are horrible, not clear at all. I don't even mention the cushions...the problem is that it is possible (and I found it too often) not to have a way to go to point A to B in the subway without leaving and coming back, it was so annoying. Also, that it takes you ages to see in which station you are from the train. In London you have a sign passing every half a second. Honest, I thought it was great that it runs 24 hours...but if I have to compromise the rest for that, I don't mind if they stop running at midnight...and I have a good, efficient and simple service during the day. London FTW!