History made: Skyline, Honolulu’s rail, welcomes its first public riders

[@Landshark2020]

Congratulations Honolulu!!!!

[@dawest767]

Please, no congratulations for this wildly overpriced corrupt fiscal disaster that doesn't go anywhere important and no one will ride. What are we at now? 7 billion over budget?

[@Landshark2020]

@@dawest767 congratulations Honolulu!!

[@dawest767]

@@Landshark2020 lol the entire train fiasco is so absurd you just have to laugh.

[@Landshark2020]

@@dawest767 I disagree

[@eliot3010]

​@@Landshark2020??????? Are you even from Hawaii? Did you even ride the rail? Unless you're some kind undercover supporter, working for the rail!

[@captainbroady]

Glad to see public transit being expanded in the US :D

[@jdmans]

but this doesn't go anywhere,it took 40-50 years, it costs $10billion, and there are no rest rooms at the stations. Hydrogen fueled cars are a much better option or lane expansion.

[@captainbroady]

@@jdmans if "it isn't going anywhere" then I guess the entire line probably wouldn't exist today. Rail transit is the reason why so many developed countries have much higher standard of living than in the US because it opens up a lot of opportunities for EVERYONE (not just the rich or the privileged) to travel. It also creates less traffic jams and pollution - if you lived in NYC or any of the major cities I think you will know what I mean. America has stuck to a pro-car transportation network for the most of the last 80 years since the interstate highway system was built in the 1950s, and trust me, it's not what the future of transportation in the US should be

[@usernameryan5982]

@@captainbroady Hello, you have precisely zero clue what you're talking about. The vast majority of public transportation is wildly less environmentally friendly than the average car. The reason being is that nobody uses it. Your example of NYC is an exception because of the land usage they have in that city. Oahu is nothing like it so comparing the two is absolutely insane. Also, this is a low capacity light rail that they spent over 100 thousand dollars per linear foot on and right now is running at over 50 dollars per ticket in operating cost not including the financing of the capital investment. There is zero evidence that ridership will be enough to have any effect on traffic because it's completely inaccessible to where people live. Not only that, but the transit oriented development that they're putting up in Kapolei is not even dense, and is barely accessible to the stations. Due to the fact that this is not usable by the vast majority of the population, this is one of the most environmentally destructive pieces of infrastructure ever put in Hawaii and someone should be sent to jail for duping the population into voting for it and for the massive cost and time overruns. If they wanted to put in a rail, they should have done it where people actually live and can get to the stations conveniently. This could mean a track that runs from the middle of chinatown, downtown, kakaaka, ala moana, down waikiki, and looping up to UH and around Makiki back down to Ala Moana. They could have even put a track up one of the valleys like Palolo and upzoned it for higher density. This could have been done in 5 years and people could have immediately used it to relieve city traffic. Inner city trains are the most reliable train networks because they're accessible. A stupid commuter train like this one is basically useless now. I'm unbelievably amazed how fooled people get when they hear the phrase "public transportation". There are a lot of things that must come together for a transit system to work and this one has so many holes missing that by the time they realize it, they'll need to decide whether to add massive repairs in a couple decades to tear it down due to the fact it's running with almost not ridership and at massive deficits. This will poison the minds even further on public transit and this project will set the US even further back.

[@ajjj4wood1]

⁠@@usernameryan5982You have no idea what your talking about actually. You think that cars are more efficient than autonomous trains like this. Which Cars emit more CO2 than these trains. If you think trains going into nowhere is stupid look at switzerland, look at France, look at Germany, etc. just becuase ridership is low doesn’t mean it wont grow because phase 2 will bring it to the Airport. Tearing it down would just be a dumb choice because it would take longer for it to built and canceled. Thinking people who planned this project should be in jail for planning this transit line. You are Car Centric. Becuase there are people who cant afford cars in the area that this trains runs through. But you dont see that. If more transit projects like these are planned in America Accept it. Because theres more being built. Back in the day we have a lot trains going nowhere. yet you not complaining about that. & lastly you are out of your mind to think that putting down a transit like is a bad thing to do. Look at what highways did to American cites they tore through downtowns. they messed up Neighborhoods. Transit projects like these didn’t messed up neighborhoods.

[@workingTchr]

Love seeing that there is a barrier between the platform and the tracks for when the train is moving. Leaving that open is so risky. Well done HI !

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

Well it’s standard for any new metro system newly built in the 21st century all over the world. This is what differentiates a 21st century metro system with a 20th century system

[@DDELE7]

Skyline is actually the first major Mass Transit system in the Americas to have platform screen doors.

[@masaya0748]

I look forward to riding the train from Honolulu Airport in 2025!😆 The cars were manufactured by Hitachi Rail Italia, and as a Japanese, I am pleased to see the excellent Italian and Japanese rail systems being introduced to the United States😁

[@safari0317]

that train made of HITACHI proud of Japan to Hawaii forever! because Japanese loves loving Hawaii!

[@portcybertryx222]

What excites me is that people will see the automated system, open gangways and the platform screen doors and will hopefully encourage other systems in their area to adopt the same. Because in terms of hardware the system is no short of perfect. But in terms of service and alignment it could use some improvement. Good job Honolulu. Better late than never. Now get Phases 2 and 3 done!!

[@rudolphna54]

There should be escalators at the platforms, but yes it's good

[@captainbroady]

​@rudolphna54 elevators too, for the elderly and disabled. But ye they gotta take it one step at a time

[@portcybertryx222]

@@captainbroady yeah I heard the stations themselves aren’t very accessible.

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

@@captainbroady there are elevators and up escalators

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

@@portcybertryx222 don’t rely on second hand info. The system is the most modern I have ridden and I have ridden in London, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vancouver and probably a few more cities.

[@themoviedealers]

Open gangways and platform screen doors. A truly modern rail transit system. So much like systems in Asia, where Hawaii takes a lot of cues from.

[@souvikrc4499]

And of course, the trains are from Hitachi.

[@zzzz_020]

people say it's bad, but it's better than nothing, and consider this is the US, building public transit is extreamely difficult

[@mgk920]

I (from here in Wisconsin) have always considered Honolulu to be a 'natural' place for a heavy-rail transit system, it's a compact city that is strung out in a very limited amount of available space. It should be especially popular with those who are tired of fighting the traffic on I-H1

[@mormardet]

Honolulu is a world-class city and finally joins the rest with this metro. Can't wait for it to expand further, Honolulu will be better for it!

[@oMgxXiTzObAmA]

No the fuck it wont😂 the bus takes you to more places you would have to get off and still get on the bus still sitting in traffic still have to drive to park by the station

[@dawest767]

This overpriced bloated train to nowhere is the biggest fiscal disaster in the history of the state.

[@dorseylandria6119]

I used to live in honolulu and it is NOT a world class city.

[@mormardet]

@@dorseylandria6119 I used to live in Honolulu too and I respectfully disagree.

[@dawest767]

@@dorseylandria6119 It's world class for meth use and homelessness.

[@souvikrc4499]

Better late than never, hopefully we'll see more light metro systems in our cities.

[@beemcplayz1044]

Same.

[@scamli]

Incredible!

[@honeybadgerisme]

Yay!🎉😅So many holdups! Finally!

[@gsn794]

all self inflicted

[@souvikrc4499]

@@gsn794 just a reflection of how little experience we have in constructing projects like this

[@bhanani5480]

Pretty exciting, using public transport, getting ppl away from using their own cars, that's a plus for the environment 👍

[@Maxime_K-G]

The only reason people were angry is because they don't understand how astronomically much more car infrastructure costs. Ever since we started with cars post-WWII there has basically been no money in the budget anymore to create any other kind of infrastructure of substance. Let that sink in...

[@TheBearAspirin]

I'm glad that public transportation is finally opening up (other than The Bus) and helping to get cars off Honolulu streets. Still confused as to why a segment doesn't run from the airport into Waikiki. There's a lot of tourist dollars that could've been going into the infrastructure.

[@nathanielcoleman5694]

It does. But that’s not going to happen for another eight years unfortunately due to funding issues

[@usernameryan5982]

@@nathanielcoleman5694 No it's not. There are no plans for it to be going to Waikiki.

[@zeephere]

amazing, i’ll probably try that out sometime

[@geodavras]

Automatic rail is amazing!!!

[@celebrityrog]

Oooh wow, an airport shuttle with 9 stops and none of them at the airport or anywhere people actually go. Nice job.

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

Dumb comment. Airport will be the next phase

[@jayfielding1333]

They really started with the wrong half. Imagine how expensive the second stage will be now.

[@deanyoung5449]

It was ridiculous to have such a small parking area at the stadium available! Why wasnt the stadium open/available for everyone to park in? Paid my $2 for the HOLO card and the $3 min recharge! Went home back to Hawaii Kai without riding it after fighting for a parking space that I didn't get! After being stuck in that half cordoned off lot, left very disappointed!

[@Mickycho1964]

17:58 AHAHAHAHA. The shepherds hook or hand in this case.

[@daylightdaylight6612]

Super cool!!

[@Robbi496]

Does anyone remember the Oahu Railway And Navigation Company? Thus is a high tech rebirth of it!

[@daylightdaylight6612]

I remeber that, I have a book about it.

[@TY-by6zu]

wonderful! Skyline is a Japanese product.

[@inkhwon]

oh god Americans are a lost cause, getting angry they've made a metro system like any other big city in the world over having... more parking space in a freaking island?

[@sneakerjockCA]

@trainsareawesome 😁😁😁 next stop?

[@PDXLibertarian]

Those folks need to get over their masks.

[@dawest767]

The amount of positive comments from people who don't live on the island are very telling.

[@blackpanda7298]

The real way to say Hawaii is different af

[@amirism91]

while NY subway worse than north korea

[@themoviedealers]

Yeah, it's over 100 years old. Things progress over time and there's only so many things they can do to update. Kind of limited.

[@souvikrc4499]

@@themoviedealers not to mention the MTA is not exactly the best managed transit agency

[@twolee7110]

worry not! I think Chinese bidders won the contract to supply new cars for NY subway

[@BOSOZOKU_EQZ]

Rode it today, got me separated from my mom

[@Gooogle-user]

日立のソーシャルイノベーション

[@keithfreitas2983]

On schedule and on budget......

[@BraddahBruce]

On budget? On schedule? You must be joking. It is slated to cost over $12,000,000,000+. The projected cost at the beginning was 3 to 5 billion dollars. No, not on budget nor on schedule.

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

@@BraddahBruceUS these days seems to be unable to build any infrastructure project on budget and/or on schedule

[@BraddahBruce]

@thomasgrabkowski8283 true, but we are talking about billions of dollars and years off scheduled. That shouldn't be acceptable or taken lightly.

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

@@BraddahBruce That’s literally every American megaproject these days

[@BraddahBruce]

@thomasgrabkowski8283 when you live in a high-tax state where the cost of living is driving locals out, it shouldn't be just another project

[@ToshiRolls]

Hi mom!

[@GakkoNoKaidan]

玉城さん

[@dorseylandria6119]

Ok. These people must not get out much if they are excited about this.😅😅😅😅😅

[@hoshimotoYuichi]

🎉🎉

[@davidsilver4339]

Sucked road construction money out of the neighbor islands that are suffering from traffic nightmares. Everything goes to Honolulu.

[@themoviedealers]

More people live there. Money goes where the people are.

[@dawest767]

We didn't want the rail. The politicians wanted taxes for payola to the unions, thank them.

[@anthonythomas1504]

Typical Hawaii. You'd think it was 1900. Ooooo we got ride one train.

[@dorseylandria6119]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@rowaystarco]

You know it's America when they spend so much time talking about parking...

[@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2]

Funny how China takes 3 months to build a 10 miles track (yes Honolulu is only 10 miles) while it took Hawaii 10 freaking years. Showing off the impossibility to develop anything. Unless you explode your budget and wait decades.

[@jxxxxx44]

Move to China, then 🤡

[@souvikrc4499]

A big reason for this would be the lack of experience in managing public transit projects

[@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2]

@@souvikrc4499 50% corruption and 50% no skill workers and no skilled engineers since completing one project every 20 years guarantees you can't maintain a major projects workforce. Lastly, you don't benefit of scale down cost of doing multiple project .... since you're doing just one.

[@whiskeykilo2h429]

Ahh that’s nothing. Come to New York City , the second avenue subway was planned, engineered for over 100 years and still isn’t finished ! LoL……

[@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2]

@@whiskeykilo2h429 Hawaii is US, so no surprise there. L.A. built 50 km of train in 12 years. Was supposed to be 300 km and it's 10 times over budget already. But made tons of politicians and their cronies and environmental companies and the engineer's that had to redo the project 50 times rich tough. The money, instead of going into steel and concrete goes into pockets, that's what it is. it's 95% theft and 5% construction.

[@Robbi496]

LOL Guideway? it is called a railroad track LOL

[@keithjohnson304]

I would be better if there was an app for cell phones to pay with to ride.

[@kevinp8108]

Does the Skyline stop at Pu'u Nani'i Street on the windward side of Oahu?

[@dawest767]

It's a short rail that starts nowhere and ends nowhere and doesn't go anywhere anyone needs or wants to go. Congratulations, Honolulu.

[@erickane7093]

mmm historic mismanagement!

[@KaizuoSilva]

yes this /\

[@themoviedealers]

Cry more

[@dawest767]

All the positive comments here are from the mainland who have no idea how much of a fiscal disaster this rail has been.

[@masa-hy1ow]

why don't you put the roof on? . Are you riding with an umbrella?!

[@Jose_Jimenez]

In my opinion, this is the most costly waste of taxpayer money. The whole thing had campaign payback written all over it. There were no viable plans presented that would have made it a feasible mode of transportation. The stations are installed in areas that are not convenient. The only answer is to make riding it free, and hopefully people can see the benefit of using it.

[@eliot3010]

Funny how all the "Mainland People" love the Honolulu Rail so much, with No Restrooms, No Handicap Access and "Still" gotta get off and transfer to the bus, y'alls Mainlanders needs to stop with all your "Happy Happy, Joy Joy"! LMAO!!

[@CeeDee01]

All islands paid additional taxes for decades on our yearly vehicle registration for this rail system. There is no end in site for this as now they're calling it rail system maintenance.

[@erickane7093]

Who needs rest rooms and parking anyway? Proud to pay the tax, right! 🌴😎🤙🏾

[@guavas66]

I predict the ridership will be huge. Most beautiful views of any mass transit system in the world. It will pay for itself.

[@loganbrown8282]

why would you need parking for a metro system? especially on an island

[@BraddahBruce]

​@@guavas66hahaha

[@BraddahBruce]

​@loganbrown8282 right? Just catch a bus to get to the station, ride the rail and then jump on another bus to get to your destination. Sounds supper convenient. (Sarcasm if you didn't catch it)

[@dawest767]

@@guavas66 Right now it costs $3 to ride it, and the cost per rider is $57, so no.

[@mystrl8r]

I wonder if they have a plan for evacuation considering how high it is. Like during high winds

[@mohammedsarker5756]

it's a concrete viaduct and its not that high. If japan can manage high-speed rail lines in an epicenter of earthquakes without 0 safety accidents occurring, we can manage some wind

[@jdmans]

$10 billion!!!!!!!!!! could have bought everyone 500,000 new cars for that.

[@peterrodby2786]

The title should read.. Ready for Fail.

[@ClarkKent-tg6ls]

Metal detectors for 🔫s😁🤙

[@TheArtofWarChina]

The homeless going to take over the rail stations soon.

[@cityplanner3063]

American PT planning is horrendous. $10 billion for a sky rail that currently doesn’t run into CBD. A light rail system with some grade separation would be so much better for a city such as Honolulu. And when I mean light rail I don’t mean the shocking small street car systems of many American cities but high capacity light rail system with own right of way such as the one in Sydney.

[@judeseibel5909]

For real and honestly city planning as a whole. I’m from Kansas and it’s really sad how much money is wasted on horrible infrastructure. My city loves to build “bike boulevards” that is literally just paint that says share the road and gives no dedicated right of way for bikes. A couple years ago they spent $19.5 million on a brand new police station, but this year they had to close 2 schools in low income areas due to a $3.2 million budget deficit. These were schools were also newly renovated.

[@mohammedsarker5756]

I agree they should've served the downtown center first, but I disagree about the mode, a Vancouver Skytrain-like system will allow for. av=beautiful view and I wouldn't be surprised if the train became its own tourist attraction. Hopefully, they expand to the airport and downtown sooner rather than later.

[@dawest767]

@@mohammedsarker5756 Tourists better ride it, because no one who lives here will.

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

@@dawest767 no one???

[@dawest767]

@@jimmcdiarmid7308 Correct. The rail is mostly empty. The footage is from the first day when tickets were discounted and the curious people rode it, and will never ride it again.

[@marktrinidad7650]

Amazing it shows. America is still at the forefront of bleeding edge transportation technologies.

[@davidjackson7281]

bleeding?

[@scott21784]

this is why we should not pay state tax. what a waste of money. I hear cha ching for those approving this project that cost billions

[@Mackyagg]

Funny how the paid ridership numbers arent posted daily like covid cases

[@dushooter]

Makes easier for criminals to break into cars.

[@konaboyz1690]

Great if not excellent place for Homeless sleeping etc

[@QuarioQuario54321]

But now with fast mobility they could probably get a job

[@themoviedealers]

Grow up

[@TheOriginalMarimoChan]

What an idiotic waste of money. I drive by that thing every day going to work and leaving work and I only see a max of two heads on that thing during rush hour. Driving past Donki in Waipahu there are 50 people at the bus stop and only 2 people on the monorail - thanks to all the taxpayers on Oahu and outer islands paying for this monstrosity as well at 12 billion dollars and counting

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

huge hassle get gas get in car get to try find parking spot get outta car walk walk walk buy ticket stand walk upstairs wait wait wait lololol man in that amount of time alone i'd be where i needed to go 20 minutes earlier just driving lolol keep on sheepie follow the flock

[@mormardet]

what on earth are you on about

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

@@mormardet and i have to explain to a uboob dork lolol

[@themoviedealers]

Sell your car, walk to the station.

[@konaboyz1690]

Holo Cards are free to homeless and low income of which is 75 Percent of Oahu Population with additudes

[@keithfreitas2983]

In Los Angeles the homeless and druggies no need free cards they just get on and ride all day then sleep in the train at night. Bathrooms? They just do it on the train. They also beat and rob you.

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

hobo cards not holo

[@ClarkKent-tg6ls]

Holo cards

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

@@ClarkKent-tg6ls no HOBO CARDS

[@larrylmedina]

Ummm no. Cards were free to everybody who rode the rail on the first day, and I’m not homeless or low income. I live Mililani Mauka and collect $11k in retirement after 30 years in USAF. What’s your story?

[@adonijah7774]

no p[arking, no bathrooms, no full destination, no aloha, what a joke feeling a little robbed, oh but look at the 30 billion dollar view, what a joke

[@larrylmedina]

There are three Park and Rides and more will be built. HART has put Porta Potties out for restrooms.

[@adonijah7774]

@@larrylmedina from what i heard the park and rides are already full compacity on first day, this is madness, billions still being spent and no solution, we are being mislead and continually milked out of billions s for this failed project.... billion dollar p porta potties what a joke

[@guavas66]

Use the bathroom before you ride and walk to the station if possible. If any big city needs mass trans it's definetly Honolulu.

[@adonijah7774]

@@guavas66 ill bring a cup topee in and throw it out the window, its unhealthy to hold your waste in, bad for your kidneys, im playing it safe and will have a cup with me

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

Do you have a bathroom in your car?

[@charlenemariecoraninmemory5130]

history lolololol try over reaching for views

[@haw5084]

This rail is setup to fail, no parking lots means riders have to find ways to get to the rail stations. then they have to find ways to get to the final destination, On the return trip they have to do that again...

[@ahmejia148]

Then join the government and affect change!

[@larrylmedina]

They have to three Park and Ride stations. To get your final destinations, you take a connecting bus. Did you expect the train to stop in front of your house?

[@haw5084]

@@larrylmedina 3 parking lots out of how many stations? you got to be joking....

[@Johnfulkan283]

Average cost of rail per mile is $200 mil top. Hawaii rail cost about 1.2 billion per mile. Too much Aloha, this rail project created a lot of multi millionaires in last 10 years. 😂😂😂😂

[@larrylmedina]

Yep I’m one of those millionaires. And I’ll keep getting richer. You complaining you wasn’t in on it?