Boston's Underground Bus : WEIRD Public Transportation that’s not a Subway (Silver Line “BRT”)

[@aldrichmendes5351]

What’s unique about the silver line is while it’s underground, it’s powered off of overhead catenary at 480v. Once it hits the surface, it switches to diesel. Essentially making it a hybrid form of transportation.

[@padellina9596]

That’s what I remember from my ride on this bus, few years back. What was even more bizarre, the driver didn’t even get out when he was switching to and from the trolley. Just pressed the button and voilà - you are entering the tunnel as a trolley bus!

[@lovedfriend2020]

I was just gonna ask that.

[@trentr9762]

Not unique. Europe has trains that turn to trams and then busses

[@jamesnotfound]

@@trentr9762 no one said it was unique. Try reading next time before try to act rude.

[@tgm9991]

@@jamesnotfound The op did say it was unique it is you that needs to learn to read.

[@WalkRideFly]

I never knew such a system existed. This is cool!

[@joshturner8322]

Brisbane in Australia also has a sizeable BRT system with underground stations and tunnels

[@LaKellita]

Try riding it before declaring it cool.

[@sostdm617]

Yes you have to check out the silver line from south station when you come here welcome to Boston

[@gossettcd]

@@LaKellita I stayed at the Airport Hilton, for a work conference, a few years ago and took the Silver 1 everyday. It was cool.

[@xtroid2k]

I take this bus daily! I love the trip

[@andrecito0410]

Everyone: omg this is so weird Us from Mass.: Hey, that's the Airport Train!

[@christian7096]

For me , this is the bus I rather take to Boston instead of the 111 :)

[@genderfluidsneutral4591]

you call a bus a train? I call it the land boat

[@uFreakMeowt]

Yeah!

[@2023-Sucked]

Yep, pretty normal

[@kishascape]

You should see the rail-like busses in Europe. They drive over 2 narrow strips of concrete laid out similar to railroads with guide wheels in the front edges to keep the bus centered so you don’t have to steer. It’s pretty cool.

[@jmalerbaboss]

who realized he got on an sl2 bus instead of sl3 😂

[@JSGRanks]

ikr!

[@c182SkylaneRG]

I saw that! And then read the 6 mph speed limit sign as 60 mph. :D

[@mrjarichard]

He also said SL3 to Design Center... SL3 goes to Chelsea, SL2 to Design Center, so he was on the right bus, just said the number wrong.

[@Northeast_trains]

I noticed that

[@kei2142]

It's like they run out of money for the tracks

[@TonyW79SFV]

That's pretty much the story with transit construction in the U.S. MBTA's Silver Line BRT was conceived as a cheaper replacement for the old MBTA Orange Line elevated (I forget which section). The Silver Line, due to being a bus, is Boston's only direct rapid transit Line between downtown & Logan Airport. As for BRT in other U.S. cities, Houston recently opened a line on Westheimer which originally was to be light rail until funding got cut. In NYC, the SelectBusService is one form of BRT put together to provide near-term solutions when long-term solutions, like the 2 Avenue Subway takes forever to build.

[@tipsythefedora]

@@TonyW79SFV It was making up for the fact that when The Orange Line el was eliminated it took away basically all the stops in Roxbury. Specifically what was Dudley Square(now Nubian Square).(also you can get the blue line downtown at State St. to get to the airport but maybe you mean right to the terminals...)

[@TonyW79SFV]

@@tipsythefedora the Blue Line requires a connection to a shuttle bus to Logan.

[@tipsythefedora]

@@TonyW79SFV I’m probably just misunderstanding you..Are you saying there is a connection between the subway and the bus to the airport? Because that’s not the case. As you exit Airport Station on the Blue Line you board a bus that takes you directly to the airport terminals and car rental center. Apologies if I’m just repeating you but saying it different.

[@keithdennis9600]

basically! if memory serves the silver line was initially supposed to be an extension of the green line (light rail trolley system) in lieu of the lack of service to Roxbury (previously mentioned axing of the old Orange Line El) , but due to budget (STILL being in debt from The Big Dig) it became a bus rather than rail

[@Jeff-lj6xx]

You actually happened to board one of the few battery buses in the silver line fleet. Usually they need to stop at Silver Line way and change power sources from electric overhead wires (like they use in Harvard Square) to diesel mode.

[@shawnwatson2shawnwat]

The Silver Line and the trackless trolleys of Cambridge are two totally different and distinct lines.

[@Jeff-lj6xx]

@@shawnwatson2shawnwat Correct. When I mentioned “like they use in Harvard” I was referring to the vehicle’s source of of power being conducted from electricity via the overhead wires, not the vehicles or routes themselves.

[@DDELE7]

The Dual Mode diesel/electric Silver Line fleet is showing its age. I personally think the T should invest in battery powered buses that could simply recharge from the existing overhead wires in the busway tunnel. Then you wouldn’t need to build off-site recharging stations for future electric buses.

[@coyotelong4349]

I was gonna say, these HAVE to be electric buses to be running underground like this

[@imanchantel226]

Yes, the silver line does this in seaport center before going to the airport for example.

[@jlei9284]

The silver line bus goes rattle, rattle, rattle, all through the town!😆

[@6or1]

This thing have square wheels, or what?

[@PaulFisher]

@@6or1 if it has square wheels they would probably line up better with the degraded concrete!

[@TheCriminalViolin]

Not remotely as rough or loud as TriMet's old Flxible Metros (Grumman 850s) I miss those damn buses so much! haha. So incredibly rough and rowdy, louder than a concert front row sometimes, but damn did I love those suckers! This bus and route is akin to the levels of roughness & loudness of TriMet's 2500-2800 New Flyer D40LF buses that are between 21 & 16 years old.

[@TheCriminalViolin]

@harry # Like every major transit agency in this country, they go with the cheapest options and materials possible to cost-cut. It's terrible and sad as hell as a transit nut myself, but it's just our reality we're forced to live with.

[@alexanderip1003]

Ugggghhhhhhhh!!! I Hated this song

[@guardian860]

they should add this to "Mass Transit" DLC.

[@ITechnologyman]

It’s doable

[@jacobg492]

You can... just have the busses drive on bus roads underground. But the stations would have to be above ground of course.

[@punishedpinecone4772]

You can already do this, just get Move It and lower the nodes then plop down some walls and stuff

[@Octopaeus]

You can use sunken road to build this too.

[@punishedpinecone4772]

You wouldn't even have to make the stations above ground, just technically above the ground level

[@BrianWebb0222]

Seattle had a system similar to this - where the busses ran through downtown in the "bus tunnel." But the tunnel belonged to the agency that was building out the light rail for the Seattle area. After light rail service began, trains and busses both shared the tunnel until just a few years ago, when the busses were shifted back to the streets above on dedicated transit only lanes.

[@dangelohartley5977]

Does King County Metro and Sound Transit buses still uses the tunnel?

[@willy.william4582]

@@dangelohartley5977 No, light rail only. Seattle Transit Tunnel is officaly what it is called.

[@dangelohartley5977]

@@willy.william4582 When did buses no longer uses the tunnel?

[@anthonybanchero3072]

@@dangelohartley5977 I think 2019.

[@willy.william4582]

@@dangelohartley5977 March 23rd, 2019

[@javianjohnson8746]

Wow, I've NEVER, EVER heard of an underground bus that acts as a subway. Thank you for making this video and educating the masses on this, its pretty unique

[@MTM358]

When it was constructed and I lived in Boston still everyone called it the "Silver Lie" because the MBTA put it on the subway map as if it were a new rail line. Oh, and the two branches literally didn't connect yet.

[@carlosrubio7589]

Max T-M ; There are three lines (branches ?) SL1, SL2, SL3. Silver Line #3 goes to Chelsea by tunnel.

[@alexdelta57]

@@carlosrubio7589 5* - The SL4 and SL5, which stay above ground with dedicated lanes but travel down Washington street.

[@jezeniawarmsley6709]

As a person who was born and raised in Boston I love that this surprises people!

[@christansnaggy3450]

I was born and raised in Boston and I never knew Boston would be this high to make that 😂😂like u can just take the blue line

[@aodhganmerrimac]

The Silver Lie was sold to Bostonians as BRT yet nearly all the line meets none of the major criteria of BRT. "A 2011 study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) determined that the Silver Line was best classified as 'Not BRT' because it lacked many of these BRT Standard features." The section you rode on in the South Boston Transitway. That small section of tunnel was the only part of the original line which meets most BRT standards. Had you rode it at afternoon rush hour, pre-pandemic you would have seen serious over crowding. Passengers often have to wait for three to five vehicles before they can board inbound, It's often quicker to walk to the South Station from the South Boston Waterfront. The original fleet on this side of the line is hybrid running off overhead catenary in the SB Transitway. The very overdue new fleet is battery assisted I believe. Yes, the ride compares very poorly with steel wheeled traction. The other side of the line which is not connected, is all street running with no catenary, but dedicated lanes & small kiosk waiting shelters on much of Washington St., that half of the line replaced an elevated RTL line (the original RTL Line of the Boston system). It was billed as a way to connect that neighborhood to the waterfront & the jobs that would be created when that area was built out, but they have never connected the two sections. The South End section drops passengers off on the street level across the street from The South Station. The line should have been a streetcar line integrated with the Green Line via the abandoned trolley tunnel under Boylston St. that would have allowed a single seat ride from Forest Hills to the city Chelsea via the SB Waterfront & Logan airport with cross platform connections to all branches of the Green Line trolley system. When the South Boston Waterfront is finally built out the Silver Lie will be completely overwhelmed. You mentioned the tunnel width, had it been built as a streetcar line the tunnels could have actually been smaller with associated cost saving I'm sure. The company that made the original fleet was actually bankrupted by the order & fixes required IIRC. Also a direct link to the Williams Tunnel doesn't exist which would shorten the trip time to Logan. All in all, it's the worst part of the Greater Boston system in my opinion.

[@teeceedeecee]

My question is is it worse than a regular bus route, or is it worse than what it should be? In other words, should they have built what they could with what they had or just left it all alone?

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@teeceedeecee Comparing it to a regular route is not clear cut. It depends greatly on the streets the route travels on &c. It should have been light rail from day one. The public was essentially told it was comparable to light rail.

[@Anon21486]

As a Chelsea resident, we are lucky to have 3 major bus routes, 2 minor bus route, the Commuter Rail, and the Silver Line. For the purpose of this convo though, my answer is.... it depends.... Here is what I mean. Comparing the MBTA Bus Route 111, 116, and 117 with SL3 is dependent on where the route goes. Pre-covid, the 111 would constantly hit traffic on the Tobin and North Washington Bridge. Not only that but traffic on Chelsea's Broadway would cause busses to back up, sometimes having multiple 111 lined up in a row. For the 116 and 117, they not only had to deal with traffic on Broadway in Revere and Chelsea but also Meridian Street in East Boston as well as Rt 1A/Bell Circle in Revere. The 116 & 117 also have an issue that is out of their control, a drawbridge. Yup, the drawbridge gives right of way for boats so it can be in the middle or rush hour and access across the Chelsea River could be closed for 15+ minutes. You know who also has issues with a drawbridge... the SL3. Yup, the Silver Line is slowed down by the very same thing that slows down the 116/117. So much so that the MBTA themselves stated that the drawbridge is preventing ridership from increasing on the SL3. As for traffic, the only major traffic issue is within the Ted Williams Tunnel. The last issue I can think of is pricing. Although the Silver Line has the same fare as the Subway system and follows the same rules with that pricing, there is no free transfer between the Silver Line and Airport Station. Of course, you may be looking for stats so let me give you some. These are from my personal experience though from my given area. To make things simpler, all of these will be based on Bellingham Square to Boston during pre-covid peak rush hours, with drawbridge open to vehicular traffic. (111 - Haymarket, 116/117 - Maverick, SL3 - South Station) 111 - 35-45 minutes 116/117 - 20-25 minutes SL3 - 40-60 minutes

[@patriciastein3627]

I live in Michigan . We are in the stone age. This is fantastic the different types of transportation. LOOKS clean too. Just cause people live in the MOTOR CITY they think everyone has a car. Michigan has been talking about mass transit since I was a child. I am a baby boomer. We do have bus service but does NOT go everywhere. DIRTY I could say more I will leave that to your imagination.!!!!!

[@erik_griswold]

You have the PeopleMover!

[@BluePhoenix2013]

Used to live in Detroit, you're right

[@BluePhoenix2013]

@@erik_griswold true but only served downtown

[@LadyJay114]

I heard about this. One of the reasons for Detroit's abysmal unemployment rate is because the city doesn't have reliable public transit. If you don't have a car you can't get to work.

[@zaybx3485]

They got the Q line light rail

[@franciscoapr5007]

It's a mixture between subway, trolleybus and bus, it's weird but it's very practical. Love it!

[@AleksanderJBL]

Love the Boston walks. The city's so much different from NY.

[@wadebraxton8597]

It's clean!

[@erik_griswold]

The Silver Line can access the existing road infrastructure after the “SIlver Line Way” station. For example to the airport via the Interstate 90 tunnel. There was not foresight enough or funding provided to do what should have been a part of the “Big Dig” which was to build an FRA compatible rail line from South Station to the airport.

[@queendee8656]

Very weird to me never knew they existed thank you for this I’m from Rhode Island🏙🌊🙋🏼‍♀️

[@ActionKid]

First time I've ever seen this.

[@marisolsanchez3088]

Me too😅 I live in Rhode Island as well

[@peskypigeonx]

@@marisolsanchez3088 Cool, and I’m a NYC pigeon

[@erik_griswold]

Providence used to have an Electric Trolley bus system too. It used the tunnel that goes up to Brown University.

[@paxhumana2015]

@@ActionKid , are you from New York City? Which borough do you live in, out of curiosity?

[@crazeyjoe]

One fun fact about Boston. The "Boston Cream Pie" (technically a cake) was invented at the (Omni) Parker House Hotel Restaurant (located at 60 School St) in 1881!

[@ActionKid]

Cool fact!

[@zacharythomason7359]

Awesome fact Thanks for that fact. Didn't know that.

[@shawnwatson2shawnwat]

I'm from Boston. It's a pie.

[@crazeyjoe]

@@shawnwatson2shawnwat The History of Boston Cream Pie... Why is it called pie when it is a cake? That is the million-dollar question! Apparently, back in the mid-1800s when it was invented, pie plates were the most common cooking vessel. These cakes were originally baked in pie plates, and thus called "pie." So, while it is referred to as a "pie" it is actually a version of a yellow butter cake.

[@shawnwatson2shawnwat]

@@crazeyjoe I appreciate what you said, however, go in any bakery, supermarket. It's a pie.

[@erik_griswold]

It’s always fun to watch a New Yorker react to life in the outside world.

[@varshneydevansh]

This is a good comment

[@Laluan]

It’s not even outside America lol

[@joebruce4826]

Boston is weird AF

[@Topgear2006]

Yeah this is still inside America buddy.

[@erik_griswold]

@@Topgear2006 New Yorkers rarely go west of the Hudson.

[@AquieoAndreBR]

When my brother lived in Boston I used to take this bus to go to the airport, he used to work very near the south station. So many memories.

[@mattjohnson1727]

Brisbane has bus freeways, tunnels, interchanges with rail that extend from the city core like a metro and bus green bridges over the rivers

[@carlitoperez528]

Boston is another level to be honest

[@lchaney]

Another level of what?

[@MarksCar-rs1nm]

I’m not ruining 69 likes

[@markocroatia7630]

@@lchaney Of Public Transport Sevices?

[@wuhanclan]

No it's not. It's pretty awful.

[@wturner777]

@@wuhanclan I must say it's better than not having a transit system at all. Other parts of the country don't even have a bus system at all. I'm from a small Florida town in the Panhandle and we're not as developed as the other side of Florida where the biggest cities are. The biggest cities in the Panhandle are Pensacola and Tallahassee, which also have transit systems, but nothing like the big leagues.

[@rbdagoat2000]

I didn’t even know underground buses existed. This was definitely interesting

[@lovelyheiferdev]

It's run on electricity (catenary wires) underground and diesel when above ground.

[@hairyairey]

Arguably the paris metro is an underground bus as it has rubber tyres

[@claytammaro7060]

I’m proud to say I worked on the “bus” tunnels when they were being constructed. At the turn around at south station, glad you enjoyed your ride.

[@menguardingtheirownwallets6791]

There are 'road grinders' that are used to flatten out the 'waves' in washboard-like road surfaces, similar to the surface that bus is vibrating over.

[@jimaustin7957]

WOW! I'm totally intrigued with Boston's underground bus system. That's awesome! And I'm used to seeing buses above ground in several big cities, including where I live at.

[@yoyobass100]

One similar feat of the T that you missed is the Harvard bus tunnel at Harvard station. The only underground bus hub in the city.

[@s89hblr]

ActionKids, actually subway T stations like South Station has few free transfer between subways and Silver Line. I taken Japanese guest to Boston few years ago.

[@derekinhawaii]

It's only free when you travel Inbound to Bosotn from Logan Airport and South Station.

[@j.c.p.4671]

The "MBTA" also has boats to Hull, Massachusetts; Cape Cod; the Airport in East Boston; and North Shore of Massachusetts.

[@Modeltnick]

Love the MBTA. So easy to get around Boston on the T. The Sulverline can run on electric or diesel, depending on where the overhead wires are available. I’ve been on this and you can hear them toggle between the two. My favorite is the Green line C branch.

[@NortheastCorridorFilms]

Finally somebody that loves MBTA. It is full of pride!

[@Modeltnick]

@@NortheastCorridorFilms Thanks for your response. First thing I do when I get to Boston is get a “Charlie Card”!

[@emiliopacheco8056]

My city (Guadalajara, Mexico) used to have a similar system back in the 70's and 80's, there was s Trolleybus line that traveled through it's own tunnels and had underground stations, but then in 1989 they substituted the trolleybuses for a Light rail system and that was the end of underground buses on my city. Cool video btw.

[@BunnyfriendMX]

Guadalajara had a very similar trolleybus system that was partially underground, operating from late seventies to late eighties when it was replaced by light rail trains. It used old Chicago's Marmon-Herrington trolleybuses slightly revamped to make them fit in the somewhat tight tunnel (which actually was intended for a metro system). You can find more info about the system, which was a partial-BRT since it ran from the tunnel into main avenues of Guadalajara, in Tom's North American Trolley Bus Pictures webpage.

[@kesschristopher]

It sure doesn’t seem to travel far without going back into mixed traffic

[@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

It does, but the parts above ground also have dedicated bus lanes. The part that goes underground lets the bus skip some of the busiest streets in the city, so its worthwhile :)

[@jenjonez]

I think it was actually made so that once on street level there is a designated lane to move through the city quicker also combined with the bike lane.

[@TheMacGuy2]

Seattle had a trolley/diesel or gas route between its airport and downtown underground similar to this. The electric propulsion worked as the bus got off the interstate and into the underground part. It was electric powered. The Boston system could be upgraded into a rail system, and its a start. Very interesting video! Thanks for producing and narrating it!

[@DigitalIslandboy]

Because the U.S. federal government already spent a TON of money on building the I-90 Ted William (road) Tunnel along with the rest of the "Big Dig" and didn't want to build a second tunnel under the Boston Harbor tunnel for rail. So the bus switches off the overhead power poles when it gets to street level in order to go into the regular road tunnel that the Feds helped build, circles the airport, and then goes back through the road tunnel and then switches back to overhead power and goes back into the tunnel. If Boston wants to, it can build another subway tunnel and convert it to full subway in the future.

[@Adorablenerd295]

I love Boston! Welcome to my city

[@YungMerkel]

A nice city, but look to all european Cities how looks normal transportation.

[@graffmixer]

WELCOME TO BOSTON....Glad to see you in my home city!!!

[@NortheastCorridorFilms]

Massachusetts gang Get in the caw!

[@cszal]

I found this underground bus system very odd! Much love ActionKid from Northeast Philly!

[@ActionKid]

Very odd indeed!

[@cherylpersons3241]

@actionkid they do that in Seattle Washington too . Boston probably got that from them the bus drives side by side to the trains they go underground too

[@user-dp8ep8qf1m]

I think they had to do this because when the silver line gets to the airport. It’s stops at every terminal I think there wasn’t enough space to do a whole subway line. Also the point of it being underground is so that people trying to catch flights don’t have to deal with normal traffic.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@user-dp8ep8qf1m It dead ends travelers at South Station, so a single seat ride anywhere is all but impossible. Originally a spur off the red Line was contemplated, but rejected.

[@user-dp8ep8qf1m]

@@aodhganmerrimac true

[@wturner777]

The funny thing about transit is the locals say they suck. I must say you guys better be lucky you live in a city where there is an abundance of transportation options. I live in a small town in the Florida Panhandle and your best mode of transportation is having your own car. Otherwise you'd be paying an arm and a leg on taxi cabs and ride-sharing. Bumming other people for rides is another option, but I wouldn't count on it unless you're carpooling together. Having your own car is freedom they say, but the downside is it's more expensive overall than having a monthly bus pass.

[@GobreadGilfredBiago666]

The silver line was actually intended to be an extension of the light rail system (green line) but the city was in massive debt at the time and was unable to fully complete the build, thus the reason for changing it into an underground bus system, which was much cheaper but still connected Roxbury and Seaport to downtown.

[@GobreadGilfredBiago666]

But, like everything the MBTA does, they’re starting to realize that their cheap choice resulted in thousands of dollars wasted in upkeep

[@mrjarichard]

Technically, only a small section, between South Station, Courthouse, and World Trade Center, qualifies as BRT, the majority of all the Silver Line routes, are traditional bus routes, above ground, at-grade, and on streets alongside traffic. Originally the whole system was designed to be BRT (requires dedicated lanes, right-of-way at intersections, fare-controlled stations, et al.), but after multiple budget cuts, they scrapped most of it and this is what we were left with, which unfortunately makes these lines fairly slow and inefficient, though they do serve areas that otherwise have no subway.

[@lvdawnll8166]

I never knew there were underground buses!

[@french1956]

Seattle had them for decades.

[@samanli-tw3id]

How do they cope with the exhaust gases.

[@DDELE7]

@@samanli-tw3id that’s why they use electric buses in the tunnel. You then can avoid the cost of building expensive tunnel ventilation systems. The tunnel was built in conjunction with the Boston Big Dig project.

[@erik_griswold]

Harvard Square station also has a similar tunnel.

[@hacker-tx2uw]

i bet u never knew u have a lil bro thanks to me n ur mom lol get owned

[@kimlemerise5580]

I live in Boston and was aware of the Silver Line,but didn't know this is how it runs..

[@BrettCook]

It looked like it was incredibly bumpy and noisy! Surprised that it didn't have a better surface being a dedicated lane.

[@pilsudski36]

The Silver line does not work well because it's "Neither fish nor fowl." It does physically match the rest of the MBTA system in any way. Sharp eyed passengers going eastbound on the Green Line from Arlington to Boylston will see a knockout panel on the right, where a century ago, there was provision for the Boylston street tuneel (Now the Green Line) to be extended to Post Office Square. If the Green line had been extended to South Station and the Seaport District under Essex Street, boardings to the Seaport district - and to Logan via the Silver Line - would have been much higher.

[@philboudreaux9888]

Fung Wah bus once went from NYC to South Station for 5 bucks.... had to always make sure you life insurance policy was paid because your life was in danger riding that bus. Fung Wah miss those days

[@jackgrimaldi8685]

Fung Wah was freaking awesome! The poor man's connection between Boston and NYC. Stupid feds ruin everything, they ran them out of business and they were never able to rebuild again. Who cares if your bus catches fire in Connecticut? For 5$ I'll take my chances.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@jackgrimaldi8685 greyhound cut the fares and they came back under different names anyway

[@susieboodoo8464]

Hello from Trinidad. I am a frequent visitor to the US but our borders have been closed for a while now, to prevent the virus spread. Wow! Never heard of this. Wonder why the ride was so bumpy though? Thanks for sharing.

[@zombienic]

Bumpy for sure but I love unique ways to travel! Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your trip!

[@ActionKid]

Haha, very bumpy!

[@bostonwalkdrive7763]

Nice to see you in Boston AK. The Silver Line is indeed a bit weird. The buses are very uncomfortable to ride on, but there is one great benefit - they are free from the airport. Just wait outside your terminal and get on, and it lets you off downtown. So easy. I can't understand why NYC never built a direct subway link from the airports to the city center. Another advantage we have is that there are actually 2 options from the airport - Blue line or Silver. One is free, the other is just a subway token. Both go from the airport to the city center. Not perfect, but I think we have NYC beat. (and let's not even get into sports;)

[@gamereric2189]

I live here, and take it ALL the time to world trade center, so I know a thing or 2 about it! The speed limit in the tunnels is set to 10 MPH for whatever reason, so its definitely slow. Its always uncomfortably bumpy, and always fun to sit across from the seat in the articulated area of the bus. When I tell you that seat in the bendy part shakes, I mean it. Otherwise, its pretty nice, though the bunching is oftentimes a pain in the butt. You'll wait 10+ minutes for a bus, and then 2 if not 3 busses show up all at one time.

[@rmhornet3826]

Underground bus system , lesser cost then a subway also avoiding all the traffic.

[@Patzi2447]

Never knew they had under ground busses 🚌. Thanks 🤩

[@dhatchbernier]

I’m a native Bostonian, and NOBODY ever called the T the “Metro.”

[@pghrpg4065]

In Pittsburgh, our light rail (also called the T) shares a tunnel with the buses but only to get under Mt. Washington. Otherwise, the buses stay on the roads and busways. The T goes back underground once it crosses the Monongahela River. Anyway, it's nice that the Silver Line bus gets to be out of mixed traffic for any amount of time.

[@Pisces-1978]

Born + raised in South Boston, a stone's throw from South Station + our "underground bus". Gotta say I love the reaction from people! I know nothing but this as public transit. Good vid ☘

[@AjbWhaYT]

I've been to Seattle before, I saw buses underground in the tunnels similar to Boston

[@seamusrichard]

It closed in march of 2019 now only light rail trains use it

[@NovaM87]

I live in Boston and avoid taking the silver line because of the rattle. I always thought SL existed because MBTA run out of money to put a light rail.

[@minnbeef]

A new drinking game would be to drink every time you say “odd”.

[@janjelinek4283]

He said it as I was reading the comment lol.

[@youtubehandlesareridiculous]

@@janjelinek4283 how odd

[@PreBCFan1]

a deadly one

[@amfm889]

The Silver Line tunnel is actually designed to the same dimensions as the Green Line (light rail), with the idea that it could upgraded to light rail. That'll never happen. It was built as a compromise to build transit to the Seaport District, but on the cheap. That bus ride has been a bumpy one since the day it opened!

[@questionmark3219]

This "T"-Sign looks like the Subway symbol of the Stockholm Metro.

[@MIKEJ788]

Stockholm Metro? Hmm . Gotta Check It Out

[@jamesnotfound]

It is! The MTA (the MBTA’s predecessor) took that idea from the Stockholm metro.

[@RealConstructor]

That’s what it reminded me of! I had a feeling of recognition when I saw the T symbol, for Tunnelbana or T-bana. A good subway system, as I remembered from my citytrip to Stockholm, ten years ago. A beautiful city, by the way.

[@lovelyheiferdev]

It was taken from Stockholm. Since the design is universal and not copyrightable, we also decided to use it (albeit with a few tweaks).

[@briangiannelli9842]

That s where they got the idea from I've been told

[@Brettski_1234]

Brisbane in Australia has a bus tunnel and stations under the centre of the city

[@jonlaguerre3163]

That rattling on the bus is home a little annoying but overall I think that is cool that they have an underground bus I want to ride it someday.

[@rogerpizarro8128]

I ride the sliver line all the time and I've never heard or felt that rattling. I think it was just the bus.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@rogerpizarro8128 I ride it every day, it rattles, shakes & bounces!

[@zioxei]

shitty cheap bus. the seats have zero fabric on them

[@mariosphere]

I really hope one day they'll convert it into a light rail. It wouldn't be a big effort but a very big gain.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@mariosphere Me too, but I don't know if the new Chelsea section was designed to accommodate Green Line cars. It should be able to since trolleys need less space than buses in general.

[@junesilvermanb2979]

The Silver Line routes are among the most frequent MBTA bus routes. All routes (except for the SLW shuttle) run at least every 15 minutes during all service hours, save for late evening and weekend service on the SL4. At peak hours, combined frequency on the trunk sections is about 30 buses per hour (2 minute headways) in each direction in the Transitway, and 12 buses per hour (5 minute headways) on Washington Street. The routes have high ridership (though lower than many key bus routes) and low costs per rider compared to other bus routes in the MBTA system. In 2012, three routes (SL1, SL5, SLW) were the only MBTA bus routes to show a profit; the median net cost (after fares) on all MBTA bus routes was $2.13 per passenger. In 2019, combined weekday ridership on Silver Line routes was 39,000. In addition to the public route name, the Silver Line and crosstown routes have internal route numbers in the 700 series. The SL5 is designated 749 after the 49 bus it replaced, while the other routes have similar numbers.

[@robertzeitz3924]

Before the pandemic, I believe the Silver Line was maxed out on its capacity. I also think Boston makes transit lines (bus and metro) bumpy so they feel and sound fast moving even though they're slow.

[@RsConqueror]

The reason this exists is to fulfill a contractual obligation they had to expand rapid transit as part of the big dig. By having a few dedicated stations and a "dedicated bus lane on Washington st" (which isn't enforced ) they could say they expanded "rapid transit" without having to actually build new light rail infrastructure which was the original plan. The result is a new "line" on the mbta that is mapped like a train, but in reality functions exactly like a regular city bus with a couple of dedicated stations, much like the trollybusses at Harvard station in Cambridge. Not that I'm mad about it or anything...

[@gpan62]

I think Seattle also has underground buses. I think Toronto has underground streetcars. It keeps people out of the weather transferring to the metro and it keeps buses out if traffic. In some places there is the idea (maybe not in Boston) that in future it can be converted to a subway system.

[@PanduPoluan]

There are some benefits for "Rubber-tyred BRT Metro": (1) Ability to go hybrid/dual mode if needed, (2) Smaller tunnels, (3) Easier to add/remove capacity, (4) Can handle steeper grades, (5) Can handle tighter turns Of course there are drawbacks as well. Basically, like all engineering, it's a question of trade-offs.

[@hpowlman9114]

In CT we have fast track it’s like a highway only for the buses and emergency services

[@24sweetroller7]

This is something I did not know about in the Boston transit system. I knew about the traditional trolley coach system that was part of the old MTA for many years, and a small part of that system exists in Cambridge and Watertown. My last visit to the Boston area was in 2003. I have seen a couple of videos about their latest addition, The Silver Line, but have not seen it in action until seeing your video. This was a good introduction and I do hope to ride on it in the future. The idea of hybrid buses dates back to the early 1930's and '40's when Public Service Coordinated Transport in Newark, New Jersey had motor buses that ran as trackless trolleys. If you're interested, you can find out more on wikipedia, or in the book The Trolley Coach in North America by Mac Sebree and Paul Ward. There's another book, The Trackless Trolleys of Boston by Bradley Clarke. It was published by the Boston Street Railway Association. I don't know if it's still in print or not, but if you ask the folks at BSRA, they'll be happy to help. Thanks for the ride and the info about the Silver Line. See you again sometime.

[@ivancuervo777]

When they switch to electric buses it will make a lot of sense

[@kennikuhlmann-clark9860]

The Silver Line is basically just a bus; some places it has it's own right of way, and most places it doesn't..... But the lack of rails is mainly done to save 'costs'.... Massachusetts is possibly the most inefficent states, in terms of getting things done in a cost-effective way.... Having a no rails, means the vehicles cannot travel at very high speed in the tunnels, for fear of hitting walls (although, Boston's 'rapid transit' system is not known as a 'speed demon' anyway, and some of the tight turns on the subway lines preclude speed)..... It appears these tunnels were, however, built with the possibility of having rails installed later.... Another problem with the Silver Line is that it cannot directly tie-in with the (true) streetcar system (In fact though, none of Boston's subway lines are compatible with each other, meaning there's no possibility of diverting trains or modifying routes between them). Buses advantages have always been that they can travel anywhere that there are roads, can pass other vehicles in front of them, and don't absolutely require overhead wires. Trackless trolleys require the overhead pairs of conductors, but can pass other vehicles to a certain extent. Silver Line hybrids only run on the overhead wires in the tunnels, it seems.

[@rjujones8243]

that was great to see ak underground bus and so far everything was clean ny better step there game up

[@zioxei]

lol I guess clean public transportation is a rare sight in the US

[@Conrailfan2596]

@@zioxei yea that’s true

[@LukeMarcheski865]

I grew up across the street from the World Trade Center stop and remember when it first opened. There is even a glimpse of my old apartment building at the intersection before Silver Line Way. Everyone was so excited about it. I've always thought of it as new but never different, this video really gave me perspective about something right in my back yard!

[@haleyraven.lilrocket9241]

Great video I love my city Boston have fun and absolutely love your videos action kid

[@D-Rizzle653]

We have this in my city Brisbane Australia 🇦🇺 we have an underground bus stations and routes

[@olgak.1139]

l have Never read or saw something like that ,ever! A thought that became true ' Human creativity that serves the public in an alternative way! 👍👌✌

[@paulquilter3481]

Here in the U.K., which where I have just been watching the video, there is just one slightly similar version of the Boston bus. It runs from Luton to Dunstable (Luton is about 25 miles north of London). Unlike the Boston version, it does not go underground, but the bus is guided in what I think is a similar way to the underground section of the Boston bus. Over the past twelve months or so, having been in almost permanent lockdown (I live in Leicester, which is the most locked down city in the country), I have enjoyed exploring first of all New York, and more recently other areas through the walks you have put on the net. It has helped keep me reasonably sane, and I thank you for that. I look forward to watching more of your Boston videos.

[@Gonk]

Never knew this existed, how cool. :)

[@queendee8656]

Facts💯💯💯

[@DonnieDarko1]

They're underground

[@civishamburgum1234]

I've never seen a bus rattle that much on tarmac. They must have some really bad roads on Boston.

[@adam-g7crq]

That's a brilliant idea, could do with something like that in London, Oxford Street is one of London's busiest retail streets and there talking about pedestrianising it underground tunnels would be the ideal solution for the buses. Thanks for showing us the silver line AK

[@MichaelTavares]

I think there are tube train tunnels directly under Oxford street aren’t there?

[@starman5757gg]

You didn't mention the most important fact about the Silver Line..it's a hybrid bus. Electric underground, diesel above ground. You didn't notice the changeover at Silverline Way?

[@andr_w]

Forgot the ferries! (Also, poor Mattapan High-speed Line...always forgotten!)

[@georgepartin1482]

This is by far the most interesting thing I’ve learned recently!

[@MCWM8589]

I love the silver line bus , its a connection from the other train line without walking outside to get ur next connection/destination its different form the normal but why does it have to be weird ? every city does things to stand out from the rest .

[@freednighthawk]

Back when I lived in Seattle, they also had an underground bus tunnel. As far as I know, it's been discontinued because they are putting in light rail. I rode that system many a time. The cool thing was, the buses were dual power, so they'd come in from all around, running on diesel, and once they got to the mouth of the tunnel, they'd shut off the diesel, and connect pantographs, and run all electric through the tunnel. Even better, no fair was required to travel on the bus inside the tunnel, or downtown.

[@trainzandplanes522]

Xcelciors tend to rattle a lot, plus, that’s mostly all muni has these days. They are sometimes not smooth buses at all.

[@tylercapalot6938]

damn, in Boston you HAVE to pay but in nyc you can just jump over the turnstile and go

[@sswan9689]

Ok; so this bus runs in an underground tunnel with no electricity, well that's different! Do they have an above ground bus that runs this same route &/or the subway that runs this same route. If they do: great options of transportation instead of driving 😁. I'm glad you showed us this mode of transportation.

[@rogerpizarro8128]

They do run via electricity when they are underground.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

There are hardly any other transit options for this section of the city.

[@unknownPLfan]

There are just the 3 silverline bus routes that use that tunnel. If you're not form the city though you'll see the silverline routes on the subway maps marked as subway routes and you'll feel scammed once you find out most of it runs like a normal bus - though more of the route it has bus-lanes, it's way too similar to a regular bus to really be designated as bus rapid transit outside of that tunnel and not all silverline busses use that tunnel. The other dumb thing is the transit authority has to go out of its way to buy and maintain dual mode busses - where the busses run on overhead wires just within that tunnel, and then diesel for the other silverline routes and the above ground section of the routes that use the tunnel.

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@unknownPLfan yup, & they are going abandon that investment by switching to battery buses, so damn wasteful.

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

I can't wait for underground airways.

[@jhostintola3092]

Weird and awesome great idea

[@Bobrogers99]

The Silver Line is a stopgap service, and not a cheap one to maintain. Built with both catenary and diesel systems, the hybrid buses must be quite expensive to buy and maintain. Apparently they have poor suspensions to give such a rattling ride. If there had been sufficient funds, this should have been developed as a light rail system, which would have been more economical and efficient in the long run.

[@reemnistas8391]

I'm from Massachusetts and I thought most states had this lol

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

I used to live in Boston back in the 1990s. This came in 2002, a few years after I left. It was cheaper than putting in another rail line - the last being the extension of the red line past Cambridge in 1976. There were huge delays in the last red line subway extension as they argued over where the train would go as well as how many stops would be built. This bus goes to diesel above ground so it does generate a lot of pollution. Thanks for sharing.

[@jhostintola3092]

We have it in Ecuador but its on the outside

[@neeljavia2965]

Same here in India.

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

Imagine Greyhound had a service similar to Amtrak, a truck at the front, and then connected with greyhound bus coaches. Equipped with e-bell or steel bells. Also adding sleepers and even a cafe car. How'd that sound?

[@Draktand01]

Huh, this makes it possible to branch out into the Suburbs way easier.

[@lovelyheiferdev]

Only the northern suburbs if you're taking the silver line. Regular buses are used everywhere else.

[@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

It was fun to see you excited to experience the SL- I used to take it to work every day so it never occurred to me that other places don't have underground buses! You didn't see this on the video, but some buses are both electric (when underground) and diesel powered- the bus has to stop and switch between the two on it's route. Very cool- until the switch breaks down on a cold morning on your way to work haha. Thanks for coming to Boston!

[@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Oh and I should have said- the MBTA also runs ferries like NYC! Though they mainly serve smaller, outer islands or towns so they aren't used by high volumes of people.

[@BJBeds]

Is this actually a guided bus- so the driver isn’t actually steering the vehicle?

[@aodhganmerrimac]

Nope.

[@lovelyheiferdev]

Not yet. (I hope the future allows it, tho)

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@lovelyheiferdev It would make more sense to convert it to light rail, which was an idea bandied about at it's inception.

[@lovelyheiferdev]

@@aodhganmerrimac I'd love it but the T is too scared to make more light rail, lol

[@aodhganmerrimac]

@@lovelyheiferdev Yes I do think they are., buses are easy for them, little initial cost outlay & they can shut it down any time they like.

[@lionbill]

Never heard of this type of system but looked pretty good & efficient to me. Don't know what time of the day this trip was taken, but there sure weren't a lot of riders. Also I read in the 'comments' that the buses while underground they're powered by a catenary, and once out of the tunnel they use diesel, which makes them even more unique. Thanks for an interesting post . . .