Favorite Transit System

I am a transit enthusist and have my own opinions, but I would like to see others. What is your favorite Transit system. You can name them by category. Here are mine:


Subway: Tie: New York & Paris


Modern Light Rail: Portland


Trams/Trolleys: Amsterdam


Commuter Trains: Metro-North


Buses: Paris (I like the color)

What do you think?

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I'd have to say that my favorite commuter rail line is Metro-North also. Their motive power is awsome and it's a nicely run railroad. I just wish they ran freight. Three GP35m's on a forty car hopper train would be a spectacle .

 

I think this new Sounder Train is seattle, WA will be really good. I certainly like there paint!!

Happy Railroading!!

Dane N.

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BC Rail King
BCRailKing@Canada.com

InternationalRegion@tamr.org for TAMR info.
Dane_Nicholson@tamr.org
http://www.tamr.org

 

Since I ride the rails as often as I can, let me throw my two cents in.

Subway:
for handling volume: NYC
for asthetics: Washington DC
for atmosphere: Paris
for "mind the gap": London

trams/trolleys: before the war; Dubrovnik

commuter Lines: Zurich & MetroNorth tie

Buses: well I hate buses, but Tormorlino in Spain had some interesting ones.


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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

 

#1:Chicago, IL. Chicago Metra, they handle Commuter Trains, Subway/Elevated, and Buses. A complete Metropolitain transit system that is ranked (last time I heard) #1 in the US, maybe the world.

#2: St Louis, MO. St. Louis Metro Light Rail.

#3: Minneopolis-St. Paul, MN. Bus system.

#4: Champaine-Urbana, IL. Transit Bus system. Ranked in the top ten in the US.

I have ridden on one other system, but would say it was average. Bloomington-Normal, IL. Transit Bus system. There is talk of a Light-Rail or Mono-Rail system to link all the Office Buildings of State Farm Insurance together. Bloomington is it's Home Base, but it's just talk right now.

By the way, it's good to see another Brent out there!

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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!

[This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 19 July 2000).]

 

Brent's are an endangered species. I'd have to say that light rail was great in Paris. I wouldn't know to much about buses though.

 

Here's my list:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Subway: Los Angeles MTA - Great station art, and the exhillerating threat of earthquakes!
<LI>Modern Light Rail: San Diego's Trolley
<LI>Trams/Trolleys: Disneyland's horse-drawn streetcars
<LI>Commuter Trains: Southern California's Metrolink
<LI>Buses: Do the Disneyland parking lot trams count?
[/list]

Granted these are all southern California references, but aren't we all a little geo-centric?

Ed Harrison

[This message has been edited by ten87 (edited 21 July 2000).]

 

I like them all as long as they have steel wheels & ride on the majic carpet made of steel. Reggie

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I really like to see all these opinions on transit systems.

As you can tell based on my original post that I grew up in New York, with Metro-North and the NY subway system. Of course I have not been on that many transit systems (notably London).

Please visit my website. I have photos of 42 different transit cities in 7 countries.
http://www.trainweb.org/subwaymark

Keep your favorite transit operations coming!

Mark Kavanagh
Salem, Oregon

 

Here's my choices;

Subway: The London Underground. Like a real subway but 10"/foot

Trams: Hong Kong Island. Dinky, bright coloured, under-sized, and 4 wheels - kinda waddles along as you sit with your knees either side of your head.

Commuter trains: Again, it's HK. The KCRC can really pack their trains, they are clean, fast and regular. And some of the best announcements in English (and Cantonese) anywhere!

Buses: Tie -
1) The bus services from Butuan to Hinatuan, Mindanao, Philippines. Seat of the pants stuff, complete with complimentary livestock and roof-riders! The road is a shocker, and the drivers take no prisoners to boot! Lot's of religious icon and no mufflers.
2)The mini-buses plying HK. Again, seat of your pants low-level flying. Like taxi drivers, the pilots are capable of looking back swearing at receding traffic whilst maintaining a straight course on the road.

Light Rail: Manchester City, UK. It's neat.

Gary.


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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page
N to the Nth degree!

 

If you haven't been to Toronto I understand why it hasn't been mentioned. The TTC, Toronto Transit Commision, is one of the finest in the world. An intergrated system with subways, street cars(trams) and buses. It is possible to transfer from one to the other and travel all over the city and suburbs. In the old days, the subway cars were red so the saying was "If you want to go anywhere, ride the red rocket" . Todays cars are silver. A very clean system with no graphitti. It is also safe. The TTC also operates the ferry boats to Centre Island. A very complete system and a joy to use. It connects to the GO commuter service as well so a question to be asked is "Why do so many of us still drive into the city?"

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Robin
Maberly and Tayside

[This message has been edited by Robin Matthysen (edited 26 July 2000).]

 

Gawd! Hmm.. so many to choose from...

Subway: The London Underground takes it. Though the cars are smaller (even surface stock) then what is available in New York. It seems to be a bit more user friendly..(toss in some English charm too!). Paris' RATP Metro is pretty good. I'm in Paris.. well.. Saint Germain en Laye right now. Love the rubber tires on the trains.. they sneak up on you.


Commuter Rail: Well... the National Rail in England is pretty good and efficient! New York is ok... but England is better (Virginia Water-Waterloo for a few days.. then all over rest of UK!).

Buses: Paris again... though Routemasters are great machines (can practically jump off whenever you want) Paris has a more through bus system. The ones in the Phillipines are cool (They call em "Jeepneys")

Tram: Toronto.. the one and only trolley system that ive been on.. or seen for that matter!

Well.. i will be in more cities within the few weeks.. so perhaps ill change my mind!

Justin in France.. where i dont know the lick of francais

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Justin:
Gawd! Hmm.. so many to choose from...

Buses:... The ones in the Phillipines are cool (They call em "Jeepneys")

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh, yeah, the Jeepneys! A great way to get around urban areas. Set routes, an abundance of vehicles, no road manners, smelly, dirty, dangerous, and cheap... yep, way cool! Love 'em!

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page
N to the Nth degree!

 

I enjoy the commuter trains we have in Atlanta. There electric but a nice ride. It's the only way I go into the city. MARTA
Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Assoc.

Brian Tidaback

 

Me, one favorite system: NJ Transit. APTA's Best in the Nation more times than anyone else, as well as:

-Trains that run reliably.
-High-tech equipment on new cars and buses.
-Inner-city Buses with nice cushioned seats.

Adam http://www.trainweb.org/midtown