Best Subway Systems in the World
Virgin Vacations recently featured an article online comparing and grading the top 5 subway systems in the world. Now I know the Brits can be a bit crazy, but I would not think that they would make that fact so public, in what they publish.
The top cities rated are…..(drumrolls…hold your…breath…NOT !!)
- London
- Paris
- Moscow
- Madrid
- Tokyo
New York makes it a lowly 7th. This inspite of the fact that it is the largest, most extensive and only 24 hour subway network of comparable size in the world.
Having travelled in all but Moscow’s underground, I can definitely say that London is pricey, and stinks in the summer. Paris subways are confusing, and worse off, if you speak english you are treated as an alien. Madrid is clean and new, but oh so small, as compared to NYC, and Tokyo, yes it would compare to NYC and be on par, or maybe top of the list.
NYC MTA transports millions of people, over about 25+ different lines. 468 stations is one heck of a lot. And, be it 6:17 P.M. or 4:18 A.M. there is always a train. The trains never sleep in the city that never sleeps.
One swipe of the metrocard gets you anywhere on the system without ever having to swipe again. And you can hop onto buses too, all for the same price. At $2, its as expensive as the cheapest street food available, and way way cheaper than London.
Try that…you “top five” cities !!!
Other Metroblogging cities are reacting thus…
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Oh, I like the London Underground and they offer a few things I wish MTA would offer…but Tokyo takes the prize. The only thing NYC has over Tokyo is 24 hour service. As NYC begins to implement some new services (such as rolling out on-platform displays announcing upcoming train arrivals), I think it will become increasingly hard for people to deny NYC’s THE subway transit system in the world.
It is a hard battle between London and NY in the transit category. London offers cleanliness and ease of use but falters with price and no AC. NY is vast, cheap and 24 hours but is dirty and a bit confusing. One feature I really like about London is the card reader, you never have to take your card out of your wallet!
I’m a native New Yorker and I think it’s a great system, but one of your comments on Paris was a bit out of line. Do you really think people trying to speak French in a NYC subway station wouldn’t be treated like aliens, either? Why should the Paris Metro people be expected to speak English in their own country for the few English-language tourists who come over? Except for MTA clerks who already speak Chinese or Spanish, etc. because of their background, you won’t find any of them with foreign-language training for tourists.
any subway system that you don’t KNOW is confusing.
paris metro rocks. the mta is a piece of crap.