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Pretty station design. Of course 1000's of folks are the real test. When I visited the UK and London, railways and the tube were so nice compared to having to

Pretty station design. Of course 1000's of folks are the real test. When I visited the UK and London, railways and the tube were so nice compared to having to drive everywhere where I live in the US.

rajman187 4y ago
It’s nice as a tourist. As a commuter who ends up having to cram in like sardines in a tin can, waiting for multiple trains because they’re over-full, and now post-covid dealing with the thought that breathing can be dangerous, it’s really a much nicer prospect to drive, walk, cycle, skateboard, etc
- dgfitz 4y ago
  Breathing isn’t dangerous. I’d rather not rehash the statistics on covid, but if you’re not quite old you’re going to be fine.
  - shapefrog 4y ago
    I’d rather not rehash the statistics on the air on the tube in London, but I will because it is disgusting. While not breathing is extremely dangerous [no citation needed] the air quality on the deep lines in particular is extremely bad [1]. [1] https://www.ft.com/content/6f381ad4-fef7-11e9-be59-e49b2a136b8d https://www.ft.com/content/6f381ad4-fef7-11e9-be59-e49b2a136...
    - zeristor 4y ago
      I would have thought that the air system in Crossrail would be far more capable, they’re aware of the issue, and have a clean slate to build on. The platforms have doors, ostensibly this allows trains to enter stations faster, but also would keep out break dust from getting onto the platforms, as well as reducing suicides (a grim feature of commuting in the run up to Christmas)
- bombcar 4y ago
  I wonder how much of the US's opinion that "Europe has perfected mass transit" comes from tourists visiting tourist places and doing tourist things at off-peak hours.
  - kwhitefoot 4y ago
    Perhaps the solution for those stuck in the Tube at rush hour is to petition their employer to vary the hours so that the peak is wider an not so high.
  - sofixa 4y ago
    Eh, mass transit here mostly works. Some lines in some cities are over capacity, and uncomfortable at peak hour, but 1) still beats sitting in traffic 2) there's lots of work and infrastructure projects being done to improve the situation. Crossrail, new longer trains a few years back in London. Paris similarly built a new metro line (14), extended it a lot, is a building a whole bunch of new metro lines ( Grand Paris Express) to better serve the suburbs, and is improving signaling to make trains more frequent. And of course lots of alternative infrastructure like proper biking lanes. The biggest issue for which there isn't yet a good solution is air quality in old tunnels, but masks probably help with that.
  - inglor_cz 4y ago
    Prague mass transit is fairly good even at the rush hour, unless there are some significant works on the tracks etc. You will have to stand during the rush hour, but the subway trains aren't hopelessly overflowing. But as a staunch introvert with a fresh Garmin watch, I try to walk as much as possible anyway. Those 10 000 steps do not make themselves.
  - rob74 4y ago
    Well, "perfection" (or what most people consider perfection) is relative...

Pretty station design. Of course 1000's of folks are the real test. When I visited the UK and London, railways and the tube were so nice compared to having to drive everywhere where I live in the US.

rajman187 4y ago

It’s nice as a tourist. As a commuter who ends up having to cram in like sardines in a tin can, waiting for multiple trains because they’re over-full, and now post-covid dealing with the thought that breathing can be dangerous, it’s really a much nicer prospect to drive, walk, cycle, skateboard, etc

dgfitz 4y ago
Breathing isn’t dangerous. I’d rather not rehash the statistics on covid, but if you’re not quite old you’re going to be fine.
- shapefrog 4y ago
  I’d rather not rehash the statistics on the air on the tube in London, but I will because it is disgusting. While not breathing is extremely dangerous [no citation needed] the air quality on the deep lines in particular is extremely bad [1]. [1] https://www.ft.com/content/6f381ad4-fef7-11e9-be59-e49b2a136b8d https://www.ft.com/content/6f381ad4-fef7-11e9-be59-e49b2a136...
  - zeristor 4y ago
    I would have thought that the air system in Crossrail would be far more capable, they’re aware of the issue, and have a clean slate to build on. The platforms have doors, ostensibly this allows trains to enter stations faster, but also would keep out break dust from getting onto the platforms, as well as reducing suicides (a grim feature of commuting in the run up to Christmas)
bombcar 4y ago
I wonder how much of the US's opinion that "Europe has perfected mass transit" comes from tourists visiting tourist places and doing tourist things at off-peak hours.
- kwhitefoot 4y ago
  Perhaps the solution for those stuck in the Tube at rush hour is to petition their employer to vary the hours so that the peak is wider an not so high.
- sofixa 4y ago
  Eh, mass transit here mostly works. Some lines in some cities are over capacity, and uncomfortable at peak hour, but 1) still beats sitting in traffic 2) there's lots of work and infrastructure projects being done to improve the situation. Crossrail, new longer trains a few years back in London. Paris similarly built a new metro line (14), extended it a lot, is a building a whole bunch of new metro lines ( Grand Paris Express) to better serve the suburbs, and is improving signaling to make trains more frequent. And of course lots of alternative infrastructure like proper biking lanes. The biggest issue for which there isn't yet a good solution is air quality in old tunnels, but masks probably help with that.
- inglor_cz 4y ago
  Prague mass transit is fairly good even at the rush hour, unless there are some significant works on the tracks etc. You will have to stand during the rush hour, but the subway trains aren't hopelessly overflowing. But as a staunch introvert with a fresh Garmin watch, I try to walk as much as possible anyway. Those 10 000 steps do not make themselves.
- rob74 4y ago
  Well, "perfection" (or what most people consider perfection) is relative...