Continuing our series of comparisons between the London Underground and the subterranean mass transit systems of other cities worldwide (see previous bouts with Moscow and Tokyo), we go up a gear and enter into a subway stand-off with our old adversary from across the pond, New York City.
Back in 2014, a writer for The Guardian by the name of Bim Adewunmi was utterly ripped to shreds on the internet after she called the New York City Subway system "patently ridiculous" and "the work of a sad*st, cooked up in a fever dream and delivered with a flourish and an unhinged grin.”
She took issue with the subway maps, which she called "a mess of fonts and colours" and with the whole idea of making multiple lines the same colour:
The city's subway map is dense and needlessly complex,” she said. “Where in London the Central line (red) is distinct from the Piccadilly (dark blue), which is markedly different from the Hammersmith and City line (pink), New York's map has designated the same forest green to the 4, the 5 and the 6 lines. The B, D, F and M all rejoice in exactly the same shade of violent orange. And I'm almost entirely certain that the blue of the A, C, and E lines is the last thing you see before death's sweet embrace. Why would you do this? The whole thing resembles a child's approximation of a city transit system: it makes no sense.
The response to this on Twitter was intelligent and well thought through, naturally, with comments including "NYC is not for simpletons with the brain of a cane toad and beauty of a blobfish" and "the Subway is fairly simple actually, just stop being dumb".
The thing is... to a large extent, Adewunmi is right and we can fully understand where she's coming from. To any visitor, the New York City Subway system is a challenge. We have friends who think the Paris Metro system is easier to understand and they don't speak a single word of French. We don't know if we'd go as far as to call it the work of "a fevered sad*st," but it is not as clearly laid out as it could be, especially at stations. Sure, if you've lived in New York for years, you've probably worked it out, but compared to the London Underground, navigation can be tricky. And that's something many New Yorkers freely admit.
We've experienced both city's systems and can say that if you took the best elements of the London Underground and put them together with the best elements of the New York City Subway, you’d probably have one of the best underground mass transit systems in the world.
The first big difference is how the journey is undertaken. In London, you pay for the distance travelled between touching in and touching out, generally measured in zones. In New York, it’s a flat fare regardless of where you’re going. However, one trip equals one fare. You can change lines, but should you need to suddenly turn around for any reason, you have to wait until you get to a bigger station with a centralised area. It also means that the equivalent trip from say, Holloway Road to Heathrow costs the same as Holborn to Holland Park. Naturally, there are pros and cons on both sides of these different approaches, depending on your daily commute.
Probably the biggest problem with the New York City Subway is trying to comprehend the mess of different trains that all run on the same coloured lines. It is very easy to accidentally get onto an express train and fly 15 stops past where you need to get off. However, once you have mastered it, and you do need to miss out a whole bunch of stations in-between your start and stop point, this can prove quite useful.
The stations themselves can be as confusing as the train network. There are multiple entrances and exits, rather than just a big one and each specific entrance/exit relates to whether the platform that it leads to is going uptown (north) or downtown (south). So, you’ll probably have to cross the road a few times to get the right one. Some of the bigger stations, like Penn Street, Fulton Street and Grand Central, have centralised areas where you can change platform without having to exit, but there aren’t many like this.
The stations in New York aren’t as bright or as clean as their UK equivalents, instead they look much more gothic, gritty and possibly even gloomy, but that’s a matter of personal taste (and by the way, we think the platform at Mile End looks just like a typical New York City Subway station). There isn’t much in the way of maps on the walls and the actual station name is often on a sign on the side of the cast iron pillars making it quite hard to spot from sitting inside the train carriage. The platforms and stations themselves aren’t air-conditioned; instead they have lots of vents, since the street is sometimes only 10 metres above you. This means they can get very hot during the summer and pretty cold during the winter.
However, the carriages are air-conditioned and it is very effective. In London you’d never find yourself wishing a train would come along for the added reason that you can cool off inside rather than waiting in the heat on the platform. They are also so much bigger, which means tall people don’t have to hunch, ever. In fact, generally speaking, the carriages are much better than those in London. No, they’re not as modern, but the plastic seats don’t feel as disgusting to sit on as London’s festering, germ-magnet material seats and can be quickly wiped down should you feel so inclined. There’s also room under the seats to slide suitcases and bags, which is very useful.
Personally, we also prefer the almost art-deco aluminium design of New York’s trains. Both London and New York boast Wi-Fi on their underground networks, but in reality both are still a little patchy. You can get connections at the stations, but in-between it’s non-existent. As for passenger weirdness, well, we’d call that a draw. You can watch this lady chopping onions on the Subway, or maybe catch a suit sniff a line of co*ke on the tube.
Actually getting your Subway card to open the barrier is a whole new nightmare. At some point, we’d like to get a radar gun and determine exactly what speed it is that the cards have to be swiped through, but we already know that a variation, faster or slower, of just an infinitesimal amount will result in requiring another attempt and a chorus of tuts from the New Yorkers behind you. That said, how many times have you been at full momentum at Bank when someone in front of you hasn’t kept their Oyster card topped up?
The fact remains that the contactless smartcard technology of the durable plastic Oyster is so, so much better than the ridiculously flimsy MTA card of the Subway. It’s worth remembering though, because it’s structured on a flat fare system, you don’t have to tap out in New York. Put the two together and you’d have a winner.
For a tourist, the New York City Subway can be a nightmare, but that itself is a very New York state of mind and they’re proud of it. Not that long ago a street vendor near the World Trade Center was busted for charging tourists $30 for a hot dog. The reaction of many New Yorkers in the comments sections and so on, was 'it’s your own damn fault if you get ripped off, get wise or get out'
No one here will hold a door open for you, ever. It’s not that they’re deliberately rude, they just have absolutely no concept of anyone else. They’re not malicious or vindictive, they just don’t give a sh*t about you. No one in New York will stand up and offer an elderly or pregnant person their seat. When we once tried to do this all that happened was the elderly person looked up quizzically and said she was fine standing.
In short: the London Underground is easier to navigate, the New York City Subway has bigger, actual air-conditioned cars. The stations are cleaner in London, New York is cheaper. The staff are so much nicer in London, you don’t have to travel to the centre of the Earth to get to a train in New York. The space issue counts for a lot, it’s not just one tick in a box for New York. Yes, London has an older network, it covers a bigger area, but New York has more stations, more lines (technically speaking) and carries more people each year. London is way more expensive, but New York does run 24 hours a day, while we've only got 24 hour service two days a week, on a handful of lines. Many will disagree, but we're calling it... a draw.
By Scott Snowden @LorumIpsum
See our previous articles in this series, with the tube taking on counterparts in Moscow and Tokyo.
Feel free to share your opinion in the comments section below.
The Tube system is deep underground while NYC subways are usually just below the surface. One fare will take you anywhere in NYC while London is based on fare zones requiring a turnstile pass as you enter and leave. London shuts down at night while NYC runs 24/7.
The London Underground has become one of the world's most reliable and innovative metro systems, while in New York a state of emergency was declared in 2017 as the subway system achieved the dubious distinction of the worst on-time performance rates of any major metropolis in the world.
subway, also called underground, tube, or métro, underground railway system used to transport large numbers of passengers within urban and suburban areas. Subways are usually built under city streets for ease of construction, but they may take shortcuts and sometimes must pass under rivers.
The system is also one of the world's longest. Overall, the system contains 248 miles (399 km) of routes, translating into 665 miles (1,070 km) of revenue track and a total of 850 miles (1,370 km) including non-revenue trackage. ...
There are subway stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. About 40% of the tracks are above ground and the other 60% are below ground. Every day about 5,076,000 people take rides on the subway.
Signal failures were the most common cause of delays across all tube lines. Surprisingly, the Northern lines most cited reason put customers and the public at fault. In total, 1,164 delays were recorded across all London Underground lines in 2018.
London Underground, commonly known as the Tube, with a total route length of 402km is the world's fourth longest subway system.It is also the oldest metro system in the world and has been operational since 1863.
Although London is less crowded than NYC and offers more green space, better weather, and more attractions than NYC, the 24-hour convenience of NYC, its high quality restaurants, and the fact that it's less expensive gives the city a slight advantage.
The Seoul Subway in South Korea topped the list. The overall ranking takes into account every element of our study – so that includes the number of stations with step-free access, the price of a ticket and the age of the system (amongst many others).
But UK undergrounds are not limited to just London, and there are actually three other UK cities which have a Tube of their own - it just might not be nicknamed that so you wouldn't have known.
The subway system is usually just referred to as the "trains." Locals say "I can take the train to your place" to generally mean that they take the subway. The subway is never referred to as the metro, underground, or tube.
Yes, London has an older network, it covers a bigger area, but New York has more stations, more lines (technically speaking) and carries more people each year.
In 2019 New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reported ridership figures of 1. 69 billion, with Times Square unsurprisingly ranking as the busiest station on the network that year (an enormous 65 million people passed through its gates).
Promoted Stories. The screech is more technically known as "rail squeak" and is present on most train systems. It is caused by the metal wheels scraping against slight curves in the metal tracks.
In 2018, a UCL academic told BBC London that parts of the Tube network were "loud enough to damage people's hearing". Dr Joe Sollini, of UCL's Ear Institute said at the time the Victoria Line service was on average the loudest while other noisy sections of the Tube equated to "being at a rock concert".
Geology. South London's soil is another reason why fewer Tube stations have been built below the River Thames. Hazzard explained: “Another big factor preventing Tube lines being built south of the river is simple geology. “The soil in central London is mostly clay.
The New York Subway opened in 1904 and is the State's longest metro system and one of the world's largest underground lines. It has nearly 500 stations and a total of 660 miles of tracks (1,060 km).
Trash attracts pests and causes track fires, which can lead to delays. He's why there's so much of it, according to Stringer and his team: Cleaning crews are supposed to visit every single station once every three weeks to clean up the garbage lining the tracks.
The World's Best Cities ranking is the most comprehensive city ranking on the planet, based on entirely original methodology that uses the opinions of the people who matter most: visitors and residents. London topped our ranking and there is a lot to unpack in the city's performance.
Work progressed until 1956 when the public were told the project was no longer economic; instead Birmingham got its underpasses through the city to help relieve congestion.
Paris Metro (Métro in French, Subway or Underground in English) is the fastest way of getting around the city. The underground system has 16 interconnected lines and is also linked to the express train RER.
Rapid transit in the United Kingdom consists of five systems in four cities: the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway, Tyne and Wear Metro, the Glasgow Subway and Merseyrail in the Liverpool City Region. ... List of systems.
subways are as safe as any form of transport at night. just be aware, as much as you would be on the street. the most prevalent crime is petty theft from sleeping or distracted passengers.
With the exception of the PATH train connecting New York with New Jersey and some parts of Chicago's elevated train system, New York's subway is the only rapid transit system in the world that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
THE world's deepest metro system is the Pyongyang Metro in North Korea which is 110 meters deep. The tunnel was built as part of an underground military facility. THE world's deepest metro, underground station is the Arsenalna Station on the Kiev Metro in Ukraine, at 107 meters deep.
The UK capital city is comparable in population to New York City, totaling around 8.9 million compared to NYC's 8.4 million. As for size, however, the Greater London Area covers around 607 square miles, which is about twice as big as NYC's 302.6 square mile area.
New York and London are similar in many respects. They are both cosmopolitan cities, they're both expensive and they're both important centers of fashion. That being said, the extent of their differences is vast. For one, London is much cleaner than New York.
Although London is less crowded than NYC and offers more green space, better weather, and more attractions than NYC, the 24-hour convenience of NYC, its high quality restaurants, and the fact that it's less expensive gives the city a slight advantage.
New York and London are similar in many respects. They are both cosmopolitan cities, they're both expensive and they're both important centers of fashion. That being said, the extent of their differences is vast. For one, London is much cleaner than New York.
Is the Tube dangerous at night? More often than not, it's perfectly safe to travel on the Tube by night. There are of course exceptions to this rule, when you may wish to make alternative arrangements or report an issue to a member of Tube staff.
The World's Best Cities ranking is the most comprehensive city ranking on the planet, based on entirely original methodology that uses the opinions of the people who matter most: visitors and residents. London topped our ranking and there is a lot to unpack in the city's performance.
Trash attracts pests and causes track fires, which can lead to delays. He's why there's so much of it, according to Stringer and his team: Cleaning crews are supposed to visit every single station once every three weeks to clean up the garbage lining the tracks.
In 2019 New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reported ridership figures of 1. 69 billion, with Times Square unsurprisingly ranking as the busiest station on the network that year (an enormous 65 million people passed through its gates).
The levels of particulate pollution in New York – a notorious pollutant known to exacerbate lung damage, heart disease and respiratory problems – now sit comfortably below levels considered unsafe by the World Health Organisation. It is not so in London. Particulate levels are significantly higher.
The UK capital city is comparable in population to New York City, totaling around 8.9 million compared to NYC's 8.4 million. As for size, however, the Greater London Area covers around 607 square miles, which is about twice as big as NYC's 302.6 square mile area.
But is the London Underground safe at night? On the whole, the London Underground is safe at night. Excluding pick-pocketing, crime rates are relatively low. On average there were 13.6 people per million travellers affected by crime in 2019/2020, which is equal to 0.00001% of passengers.
Though generally safe, it's not a good idea to walk around London at night, especially on your own. Quite aside from the safety factor, it's also a major capital city – if most journeys take upwards of an hour via public transport, just imagine how long they'll take on foot.
Yes, it's safe. Like any big city, there is some risk of petty theft, but little risk of physical violence. There aren't any "unsafe" areas in the centre. Even in the outskirts there aren't many areas I'd not walk alone.
Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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