Best Subways/Metros around the world?
Virgin Vacations recently released the top 11 undergrounds in the world and although Manila is not in the list, here’s my take on it. I’ve been on the Metros in Hong Kong (ranked 10), Beijing (ranked 9), Singapore, Bangkok, Berlin, Paris (ranked 2), Rome and Kuala Lumpur. so here’s my rating according to the one’s I’ve been on. I’ll even share something about each metro?
6. Rome - The oldest metro I’ve been to. The tickets machines are available in English and can be used on both buses and on the two lines that cross the city. The trains also drop you off most of the historic sites although I have to say the metro is a little old and needs a bit of sprucing up? Don’t get stuck in Rome on a Holiday, you won’t get much of anywhere on the bus or the train.
Overall: 2/5
5. Manila - The MRT Lines 1 and 3 and the LRT is one of the most secure light railway in the world. Of all the undergrounds systems I’ve used, only Manila requires a security check before you get in the station. No balloons are allowed, no canned goods, bottles (so no groceries allowed on board), gifts must be opened and so on, where else do you get this much security?
Overall: 3/5
4. Beijing - Some stations were downright dirty while most were already prepped for the Olympics. Either way, if you have problems with the ticketing, you can always get out a phrase book.
Overall: 3/5
3. Berlin - Perhaps they offer the most efficient service. When they say the train will be there by 9am, it will be there. I was there New Year’s 2007 and the U-bahn was on time all the time until the wee hours of the morning. How’s that for efficiency?
Overall: 4/5
2. Singapore - Probably the world’s cleanest Metro. The trains are fast, clean and very well lit. I’ve never had a problem in the Singapore metro. I could even use the prepaid card to pay for my McDonald’s burger meal.
Overall: 4/5
1. Paris - The most commuter friendly and accessible metro I’ve been to. Ticket machines in English, generally tourist friendly staff and there’s access to the Paris metro for no more than 500 meters of whereever you are in the city.
Overall: 5/5
Honorable Mentions:
Kuala Lumpur - Most distinct trains - I’ve never been on a public transport Monorail.
Bangkok - Most shopping friendly - Most of the stops I got off of were near shopping malls.
Hong Kong - Apart from Paris, perhaps the best planned with stops placed adequately.
Thanks to Tokyo Metblogs:
The Best Underground Transit Systems in the world
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I have to agree with you. Paris really planned out their subway system so you can easily take it without having to walk too far or even take another form of transport. The subway map can be a little tricky but not impossible to figure out. I also felt safe. A couple of police were walking through each train when I took it (mainly because it was already late at night). Anyway, my other favorite subways (or a hybrid) includes San Francisco’s BART, New York City’, and Boston. I liked parts of Washington D.C.’s and even Los Angeles subway (I know its not very long and it doesnt go anywhere but its cool nonetheless).
Of the six you comment on, I used two a very long time ago. What I remember most about Rome is a lot of voluble Italian being yelled at me until a couple of nuns saved the day. Toronto has brightly lit stations so I found Paris’ quite dark, but I did like their station entrances with their iron scrollwork. Trying to get on the train also took a couple of tries before I realised we had to push a button to open the doors. It seemed a bit weird to me. From what you say, it sounds like Paris has upped the tourist-friendly quotient by a lot.
Not being able to carry my groceries home on the subway would quite annoy me. How do you get them home if you can’t use public transit? Are buses a good alternative? Or do you have to walk or take a taxi?
Although Toronto’s subway is inadequate to meet commuter needs, as the last great subway building happened back in the 1970s, and since then, only dribs and drabs; and although it’s expensive, it does drop you off near major cultural destinations like the museum and art gallery, as well as shopping districts like the Eaton Centre and Bloor/Yorkville. I’m not sure how secure it is, as it uses very old cameras to monitor the stations and the federal government refuses to properly fund their replacement with modern ones used in places like London. Toronto doesn’t have the money. If a subway system in Canada was to be hit, it would be ours.
Our stations used to be pristine. No longer. And the TTC and its custodial staff are squabbling over how best to clean it up. Sigh. And as for efficiency — non-existent. It’s not surprising that we didn’t make the top 11 list. We would’ve 20 years ago. That’s what makes it really sad.
i would have to say UK’s tube/metro wins my vote on this, hands down! i thought NY’s subway system is pretty efficient, but when you think about the delays (and its domino effect on other train lines due to multiple track usage), london’s metro really works it. although like rome, they close down for the holidays.
paris goes second, but the thought of the train doors’ ability to be opened even before the train goes to a complete halt kind of scares me.