Making Our Subways Better (Without Breaking the Bank)

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North America actually has a lot of good subway systems, but if we want to have transit as good as the rest of the world, we need to start turning good into great. Let's talk about how we can do that!
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Ever wondered why your city's transit just doesn't seem quite up to snuff? RMTransit is here to answer that, and help you open your eyes to all of the different public transportation systems around the world!
Reece (the RM in RMTransit) is an urbanist and public transport critic residing in Toronto, Canada, with the goal of helping the world become more connected through metros, trams, buses, high-speed trains, and all other transport modes.

[@djplong]

In Boston, we need them to concentrate on: 1) Not having the trains catch fire. 2) Keeping the trains on the tracks and 3) Building brand new standard-gauge tracks at actual standard gauge.

[@lucadipaolo1997]

I almost thought it would go "2) Keeping the trains unburnt" lmao

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Man, the DC Metro really is such insane and iconic design. The flashing lights on the platform whenever a train arrives, the hexagonal tiles, the waffle-style concrete vault Brutalism, it was built as a showcase system, and it shows. They were designed by Harry Weese, and he worked with Massachusetts-based lighting designer Bill Lam on the indirect lighting used throughout the system. He visited London, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, and many other smaller cities, hoping to take the best elements of each and combine them into the perfect system for DC. Weese created a proposal with dozens of views for station interiors with a simple semiellipse, with a flat bottom and curved top. For cut-and-cover stations, the vault was proposed to have straight, vertical walls supporting a curved ceiling. But the CFA wanted it to be beautiful, and no exposed rock walls like Stockholm, so he changed his thought. He felt the necessities of each station would produce the variety, that "You don't try to make them different for different's sake. We think it's very appropriate for Washington. After all". To Weese, the sweeping, swooping, floating lines of Metro's plazas, stations and mezzanines are the system's best feature. Once they were chosen, he said, the long, long escalators and the indirect, somewhat dim lighting in stations fell into step as a result.

[@philplasma]

I definitely agree; expand both in terms of TOD and extending lines, but also improve, both the low hanging fruit you talk about, but also the service. Here in Montreal, and all of the province, transit users are super upset as the CAQ transport minister is offering a 70% subsidy to transit agencies deficits for this year when the transit agencies have asked for 75%. It isn't a big difference, but here in Montreal they talk about ending metro service at 23h instead of 1h and on weekends starting at 9h (in direct opposition to your idea of 24hr on weekends), as well as reducing bus service. It is infuriating that the CAQ government has invested billions in a new electric battery plant in a town outside of Montreal but will not consider new funding measures to support transit agencies, like increasing the transit agency fee on car registration.

[@RMTransit]

I agree that this is a big issue, but if the STM is anything like the TTC it could also get a lot more efficient!

[@lzh4950]

Meanwhile Singapore has withdrawn all its late-night buses, supposedly due to lower demand, though a conspiracy theory is that our government pities taxi drivers who were hard-hit during the pandemic & wants to give them more business during late nights

[@darynvoss7883]

Although it's almost an urbanism trope to make fun of people saying "the trains are so full that no one wants to use them", I think that an example of improvements that should be done is that if trains are completely full, it's time to increase frequency. No one wants a long train journey standing up, and if they do it it's because they have to.

[@matnatale]

some buses here in Sweden with USB ports have been ”vandalised” by people putting gum in the port 🫠

[@galanta3534]

You shouldn't trust them anyway

[@Foxy_AR]

Same over here in Germany 😂

[@darcy_1]

Montreal has USB ports in many buses and I’ve never seen that. Either no one does that or they clean our buses more often than yours

[@LeZylox]

In Switzerland also non of the usb ports are vandalized

[@bappyhasanjahid4985]

now you know why Singapore banned gum😂😂

[@91Caesar]

I'll save you the 10 mins watching the video. All you need to do to make your subway better is paint racing stripes on the trains

[@rmmvw]

With new cars, and even new ones are rising in costs, it gives the pressure for local communities to invest more in their transit. We will see what will happen in the next few years.

[@RMTransit]

Oh I absolutely think so, one of many long term trends

[@Skip6235]

“Montreal Express BRT” *shows footage of the Montreal Metro* I see what you did there! 😅

[@matthewconstantine5015]

DC's Metro can be frustrating...frequently. But it really has improved a bunch in the last several years. Often a two steps forward, one step back kind of thing. But still improvements. Like when they put in new, readable digital signs at a lot of outdoor stations (great!), but they positioned them so that they're blocked from the view of 90% of the platform (not great!). And let's not even get into the 7000 car debacle. Still, it has gotten better. And it's more reliable than it was 7 or 8 years ago. It's been quite a while since I've been standing in a station and the overhead announcements of elevator/escalator malfunctions, disabled trains, dysfunctional signals, and single tracking has gone on continuously for my entire 20 minute wait for the train that was supposed to leave in 3. Those days, at least, seem behind us. And yes, while I wish they'd get the headways for folks outside the Beltway under 10 minutes, and yes, they desperately need to improve bus frequency and connection, the trains are cleaner and the wi-fi can help. Those little quality of life movements do make a difference.

[@ecifircas0]

those days are not behind us unfortunately. it’s gotten a lot better but i still find some of my trips delayed from red line shenanigans 🥲

[@artano2582]

I think Randy Clarke has done a good job looking forward and not back. I think the improved wayfinding test at L'Enfant was great. The 8000 renders are really nice. I would like to see stations have connection screens above the escalators (Like at Potomac Yard) across the network. Overall, I am hopeful for the future of the DC metro. Even on weekends when the blue line has 23-30 minute headways and the silver line doesn't leave Virginia

[@artano2582]

I also think improvement proposed by VRE for the summer will help to have a "regional express" type services for the first level Fairfax county suburbs. If it goes through. The Long Bridge improvement should also help the regional rail. Now if only MARC could do something in MD...

[@matthewconstantine5015]

@@artano2582 Agreed on all points.

[@barryrobbins7694]

I used the Metro a lot in the early 2000s. It was always very reliable. It seems that no longterm planning was done for the inevitable aging of the system, the same for its sister system in the SF Bay Area.

[@svon6642]

Power and USB (C+A) plugs would be awesome, and they should be a simple slottable socket that you can unscrew and replace if damaged so maintenance is easy (they do wear out and break, even if vandalism won't be common)

[@RMTransit]

I agree on all parts!

[@dmfaccount1272]

It shouldn't be so easy for hackers to remove them and modify them so they can steal data from hundreds of phones with ease.

[@suhandatanker]

​@@dmfaccount1272 That's really more of a security matter and quality of maintenance after service, in my opinion.

[@petersilva037]

in Montreal, while the transit is great in the centre, there are a lot of car dependent suburbs right around it, and there is no reasonable transit there. It would take me about two hours on transit to do a 20 minute drive to work. The REM will be great, it will just take 30 minutes or so to get to it in the first place, so instaead of 2 hour vs. 20 minutes, it will be about 1 hour vs. 20 minutes. The commuter rail shared with freight so you get a handful of trains a day... To increase ridership, folks have to have an option of taking transit... not just downtown, but where people live and work outside the core.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"And fully walkthrough trains that let you avoid your boss on your commute" that one got me 😂. Yes, absolutely it is nice when trains have USB ports or power outlets! As you said, sure you may not use them all the time, but for the times you do need to charge, it's nice to have a charger while transiting! On the LIRR M7s for example, the M7 only has them on the seats nearest to the doors, but the LIRR M9s that entered service in 2019 has power outlets at EVERY row of seats! Not to mention, compared to the M7s, the M9s display the car's position within a train on the external and internal destinations signs which especially helps for shorter platforms, they have wider seats, and they have additional seating! And agreed, the R211s really are incredible! Showing which car you're in and where all the exits and elevators are located when it arrives at the stations, the cool headlights, the LED displays and LCD screens and how the display point to which side the train will pull up, the flashing red lights that warn when the doors are closing, and even having flip seats for wheelchairs! The subway is the backbone of the city and thus, it must keep moving forward and these cars are a huge step in the right direction for the subway's future. The system having open gangways will provide more space for people who use wheelchairs, bikes, strollers, or luggage, with the luggage part being a big plus for those going to JFK!

[@mrvwbug4423]

The car indicator is especially nice on LIRR with its numerous short platform stations where only the front few cars actually open their doors. LIRR usually runs 10 car consists and can run up to 14 in a pinch, and with the big size of LIRR car pairs, a LIRR 10 car consist is comparable to a 12 car UK commuter train or 12 car S-Bahn from Germany. Though I think the euro trains with their bi-articulated car pairs can take tighter corners at speed.

[@lordsleepyhead]

Also: driverless technology is a game changer. Suddenly you can run your trains 24/7 due to not having to hire extra drivers if you want to run more trains. Same happened with elevators 100 years ago when they stopped using elevator boys. You don't question why your elevator doesn't need a driver. With the right technology, you won't question why your metro doesn't need a driver either.

[@artano2582]

The renders for the 8000 series trains here in DC are great. Open gangways between paired cars, power outlets, wifi, (hopefully) an improvement on the nice 7000 wayfinding. The power outlets and wifi is great for people like myself who are at the end of a line where the metro functions more like regional rail than rapid local transit

[@Staymos]

Can you review the metrorail in Miami and the tri-rail in the tri-counties

[@RMTransit]

I've talked about it before, perhaps again in the future if something comes up

[@GB-ez6ge]

I don't care how new or luxurious the cars are. More trains, more track, more places. Shorter trains are okay if it increases frequency. Even at rush hours, DC's trains are only half full.

[@LucificNight]

@3:57 About the USB ports: I live in Singapore, and some buses have USB ports that you can use to charge your phone. Whether they work is hit or miss, I'd say that anecdotally, you have about 75% chance that the port you use is working. Whether that's good enough or terrible, judge for yourself. I attribute the damaged units towards: folks being rough with the outlets(jamming and yanking cables in/out), the bus companies putting maintenance of such items really low on the totem pole, and just the unsuitability of the USB-A port for extremely frequent and rough use. The flimsy plastic covers are also ill-thought out: Few users replace the covers after use, and the flimsy strap means it has a high chance of just dropping out. I feel like Singapore's public transport USB features are in that "KZbin rolls out a new feature"-phase, and still needs better iteration before we reach the point where it's at the "it just works" phase.

[@RMTransit]

This sounds like how USB ports work on most transit I'm familiar with - your diagnosis sounds correct, some improvements are needed!

[@samuell.foxton4177]

sounds similar to buses in Leeds. They're more likely to be broken or not switched on than vandalised, but they do get vandalised sometimes

[@nickanand8087]

Feel like safety concerns need to be addressed even if it might be slightly politically incorrect. This could also mean discussing how right wing media sensationalizes some elements of the danger of transit (not just shitting on homeless people).

[@Fan652w]

Thank you Reece for an excellent video. Much of what you say is applicable here in Britain. I particularly liked your point about information screens inside trains. Screens like the Berlin example showed at 2m 31s are now common in German-speaking Europe. For example, all Zurich S-Bahn trains have screens showing all connecting public transport! I was expecting Elizabeth line trains to have similar comprehensive information screens. I was bitterly disappointed! This problem cannot be solved by reprogamming the existing inadequate screens.

[@user6343]

tbh the S-Bahn trains have the worst execution of Info displays in Switzerland. But the do work fine indeed. Maybe I'm just complaining because exit navigation on the inside of doors would be nice especially for Zürich Hardbrücke were its important were you'll exit to get on the right direction of bus/tram

[@BalaenicepsRex3]

The best info screens I've personally seen were in Hamburg's Metros. The design and symbology are slick, intuitive and clear, and allow constant visibility of the next three stations and final destination, as well as connections on each station. Also, the screens *always* show the next stop even when ads are playing. And the sound cues were always spot on! Here in Mexico City there are no screens in Metros. In "MetroBuses" (special BRTs) the biggest screens show only stupid ads, and the smaller screens that are supposed to show the next station constantly put junk over it, like safety cameras' feed or even more ads. They get frozen or out of sync pretty regularly as well. On top of that, the audio cues are the definition of inconsistency. Just tuning those things would greatly improve the user experience!

[@RMTransit]

Hamburg is pretty great for wayfinding@@BalaenicepsRex3

[@RMTransit]

Why can't they be reprogrammed?

[@Fan652w]

@@RMTransit The screens on the Liz line are clearly of a very different type to the Berlin example you showed! The Liz line screens are much smaller, and are clearly incapable of showing the HUGE AMOUNT OF INFO WHICH APPEAR ON THE BERLIN SCREENS.

[@wilsonli5642]

Ugh, the mention of CBTC would make any New York railfan start twitching uncontrollably. The MTA's been talking about CBTC for well over a decade now, and they've completed installation for all of two lines.

[@emjayay]

And still require two employees per train (driver and conductor) even though most of the work of both of them has been automated.

[@_JSN]

Prefer actual power outlets instead of USB ports to prevent juice jacking.

[@annoyedok321]

On wayfinding.... I went the wrong direction in NYC a couple of times. Zero problems in London and Paris. It's been a couple years, but am I wrong in thinking NYC doesn't have a sign at departure that only lists the stops for the direction the train is going? I remember seeing the whole route and having to figure out which way by North/South etc or going by a single listed stop. Then I'd get on the train and wait till the next stop to determine if I was going the right direction. Sometimes there would be a led map, but they couldn't even afford 3 leds per station to make a directional arrow. A poster can make a world of difference. Like why isn't there popular tourist sites listed on certain stops. A pictogram of the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty is simple. NYC is a international city, yet I couldn't navigate the trains quickly knowing English.

[@nelsondrueding6726]

Don't forget safety! If you have the funds, doors at crowded stations would definitely help. A Lot of people are frightened by the trains.

[@arhanmenon1526]

"Montreal Express BRT" 😂😂😂

[@DevynCairns]

Personally I don't plug anything into random USB ports. It's not just vandalism, they could be tampered with and you never really know what's on the data lines. Could short your device, could emulate a keyboard and mouse and do some nasty stuff. Who knows. It's not likely, but it could happen.

[@Dqtube]

For this reason, some vehicles and stations are equipped with wireless chargers. It's not for every device, but it can help some people.

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

In the netherlands i know 2 major conveniences over the US that don't require doing anything about the railway connection. There is no need to prebook anything, you can check in at the station on your way to the train and get on all lines, (though internationals do require you to enable the international surcharge). Second. A convenient app and website where you enter your location and destination, and either departure or desired arrival time and it will calculate your best options for you, show you the walk routes at transit, station counts and names until you have to get off a line, all the good stuff, taking into account all modes of transport, and all transit conpanies.

[@no1wafer]

I'd argue that WiFi and USB ports are not needed, but cellular network into tunnels and indoor buildings are a must for the 21st century

[@TalKessler]

About USBs, in Israel all new busses must have them by law. They get destroyed after a month.

[@EraYaN]

People basically will vandalize everything even steel bars and tubes… So that really depends on where you are.

[@Rheilffordd]

I greatly enjoyed this and a great run down on what makes a good Subway system for a city’s transport!

[@RMTransit]

Thank you!

[@sobu_hasy]

I love so much how do you call the Montreal Metro, Montreal Express BRT because of running on rubber tires.

[@YoungThos]

I choked on my beverage when he said that 😹

[@JeremyBrownEh]

Was looking for this comment 😂

[@Dqtube]

Wait, a million passengers a day is considered a big number for such a large cities ? I may be biased by my experience, but the Prague metro had over 1.2 million passengers a day in the pre-Covid era and in the last full year 2022, it was over 920k per day. Also it operates only from 5:00 to 24:00.

[@momerathe]

my pet hate with wayfinding is dislays that cycle through a bunch of pointless announcements rather than just showing the station information all the time.

[@l.c.8475]

Wifi on a fast train is nice to have but not essential, wifi on a longer train ride greatly improves the experience.

[@teddymacrae]

I think being able to charge your phone and take the subway throught rhe night are the kinds of changes that can convince people to sell the car as they entirely eliminate arguments for keeping them. Number factor in trip mode share is %of people who own cars

[@KyrilPG]

Yup, plus full 4G/5G coverage of the network, even in the deepest tunnels. Otherwise charging is less relevant.

[@chromediesel444]

As far things go with Amtrak's presense surrounding NYC, They do intend having new routes to Scranton, Allentown, and Ronkonknoma. Which is good but what I do worry is it might not act like a thru train but instead force riders to reboard at Penn Station.

[@johnhood3172]

Hi, Geoff has a new video on the new Piccadilly trains in Germany, take a look . JH

[@RipCityBassWorks]

DC Metro is the subway that has light rail like operations with 15 minutes headways.

[@kennethtway9289]

Little brother to BART.

[@sblack53]

DC and BART have interlining problems that effectively cap their frequency

[@alexhaowenwong6122]

Agreed, but BART makes DC Metro (and even MARTA rail) look frequent.

[@bryancook7398]

I would say a 120V receptacle would be way more durable and useful than 12v USB slots. On a recent plane trip half the USB slots didn't work while I have never had that issue with a receptacle. The fact is USB is designed for data and power transfer so it is over engineered for the role of power supply and just doesn't have the durablity. The only real benefit is they are universal across the globe while receptacles are not, but that wouldn't be a major concern on local transit.

[@MrCyclist]

Here in Toronto we need earlier entrance to our subways for bicycles. 10 am is far too late when you need to get to Vaughan for a 9 am appointment and live downtown.

[@obifox6356]

Bicycles in transit trains and busses are a big problem for most riders.

[@smb6995]

Hahaha Montreal express BRT 🤣🤣🤣

[@traindergy]

Even with large trains on the DC metro, modern systems can upgrade signalling to 40-48tph (90 - 75 seconds), because trains don't need to clear a platform, they just need to have a safe buffer distance between trains. I think mega-capacity systems are something we need for the future, and 40-48 tph will easily blow any other mode out of the water in terms of capacity! (maybe except suburban trains, I've calculated that GO electrification can hypothetically run 33tph with mixed EMU's and modern electric locomotive trains, thanks to high braking quality of the bi-levels, and up to ~110,000pphpd, but that's another topic). I do think 24 hour service should be all days of the week, not just weekends. I think that all rail transit, alongside buses, should be 24/7! All we need to do is install more crossovers and upgrade signals!

[@KyrilPG]

90-75 seconds is almost exclusively full automation territory, and mostly rubber tyred trains for the shortest intervals. VAL systems like in Lille or Toulouse can do 60 seconds (Lille's VAL metro lines operate at 61 seconds on peak) and the highest frequency lines in Paris are the rubber + automated ones, even though most other lines are semi automated with a GoA2 system. (I'm talking intervals between actual departures, not between when a train leaves and the next one arrives, which can be only a handful of seconds in some cases but not a true representation of the actual frequency of a line). The 120-90 seconds range is already complicated for driver operated trains, anything below 90 seconds is almost impossible with human operations.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

Transit agencies should really advertise their services in a way that shows advantages of transit over driving (such as lower costs) and debunks the uniquely American myth that everyone must own a car and drive everywhere.

[@shauncameron8390]

There are no advantages unless it's Downtown.

[@stephhugnis]

Commuting from NYC to NJ: 2.90 (NYC transit) x 21 x 2 + 7.75 (NJ transit) x 21 x 2 = $448/month Time: 2 1/2 - 3 hours per day. Driving : 12.75 (toll) x 21 + 86 (gas) + 110 (insurance)= $464/month Time: 1/2 - 1 hour. It doesn't take being in a rush and needing to take a cab in for driving to become cheaper and faster.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

@@shauncameron8390 and where do you live? let me guess, a sprawling suburb? transit not being great at accessing certain places is more of a city planning issue than anything else.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

@@stephhugnis the problem in the USA is that driving is too cheap and easy, which creates less incentive for transit improvements. congestion pricing in Manhattan was the right decision.

[@nightpups5835]

Making transit nicer is part of the shaping operations needed to get that high ridership. If the transit environment isn't inviting then only those who have to will use it, but if it's nice, more people will choice it instead of sitting in smelly annoying traffic.

[@debuthunter5389]

Love your stuff! Do you ever contract for or work with governments or agencies on transit and urban planning matters?

[@peternouwen]

Increasing comfort actually does bring in new riders. Comfort and frequency work on each other to accelerate ridership exponentially.

[@mdhazeldine]

You're recommendations are all great, and I love your enthusiasm, but it begs the question...if these things are so obvious, why aren't we doing them, and what can we do to change it? I don't imagine that TFL, MBTA, TTC etc. are sitting around wondering how to improve things, but they just don't know how. I think it's most likely that they don't have the funding or the desire to improve because they have no competition or because shareholders want their profits or politicians are trying to appeal to middle class nimby's for their next vote. I'd love to see you have a live debate with some of these people to see what talking points you'd use to try and convince them to do some of this stuff.

[@RMTransit]

I Will say I don’t think funding is the issue

[@obifox6356]

I agree in part. Yes to better direction signage. Paris has electronic signed near subway exits, indicating departures on nearby bus lines. Especially helpful in choosing routes when you could use either of two, departing at different stops. In NYC, it’s hard to find bus stops when exiting the subway. As far as new train designs are concerned, give me clean, well lighted old trains before spending on more windows (especially underground). I do not see the point of door edge lights on NYC R 211. They must cost more than Munich S Bahn’s similar lights above doors. Such innovations run up costs without real benefits. One improvement for existing systems that you omitted this time 😮is automation, which permits more frequent trains at existing cost. Paris #1 line is a great example. Like a horizontal elevator. (Imagine the costs if every elevator and every telephone connection required a human operator). Keep up the good work.

[@lzh4950]

Starting with the Thomson-E Coast Line, Singapore has meanwhile simplified its train stations' signage but I think it has gone overboard e.g. when exiting a platform with escalators at both ends pointing to exits at opposite ends of the station, platform signs tell you that both escalators go to the stations' exits, but no longer tell you which ones. Only after you alight from the escalators are there signs telling you if you are at the same end of the station as your exit, or if you have to walk all the way to the other end of the station to your exit. Maybe our gov't was worried about platform escalators nearer to more popular exits being overutilised. Then as you exit the station, you'll realise we have also removed the simpler numbering system that we've had since 2002 for bus stops near train stations, which makes it less user-friendly to guide passengers alighting from trains to connecting buses. It's simpler to, say, tell someone alighting at Outram Pk station & transferring to bus 33 that he/she has to walk further to bus stop 4 instead of 7, rather than telling him or her to walk further to bus stop 05019 instead of 05069

[@glaframb]

Talk about the Montréal Express BRT but show the picture of the Montréal Métro ! Do you need footage of the Montréal SRB/BRT Pie-IX ? P.S.: Ok! it's a joke about The Montréal Métro been on rubber wheel like a bus. Therefore the Montréal Express underground BRT.

[@volanfan]

Please make a video about Budapest Metro! 🙏🙏

[@christophercolin3886]

If you haven't done a video on Adelaide (AU) trains, (the electric ones), they have usb ports for charging onboard

[@forkast]

Montreal express brt 😃

[@zacharyabelson8196]

The first batch of buses to get usb ports in the twin cities are gilligs from 2019 and many of the ports no longer function, I don't think it's due to anything malicious but just 4 years of wear. This is complicated by the fact that you need to replace all the ports on one side of the bus at the same time so if one or two are broken they aren't going to junk 20. Luckily this has been fixed with the 2023 new flyers which have usb ports that can be replaced in groups of two, are less awkwardly positioned (between seats instead of on the wall) and the ports light up so you can see if they work and find them at night without fumbling. All the buses in the fleet except the very oldest spares have wifi and while I don't use it often it has come in handy when I'm on the way to school and realized I didn't do an important assignment on my laptop.

[@calleywang6203]

BART is upgrading to CBTC but it'll take years before it's finally completed. All but one of the lines funnel into Downtown San Francisco and the Transbay Tube so it will help increase frequency across the system.

[@brianholmes1812]

Enjoyed the snipe at the beginning at Montreal's "Express BRT" 😂

[@nanaokyere7141]

Good video and good point. Instead of talking about gaining new customers, how about we fix the experience we have for our current customer. 👍🏾

[@jacktion1546]

It was always nice having the trains run all night (except the lines they were doing work on which ALWAYS seemed to include a line I used) when I was working until midnight in Brooklyn and had to commute home to the Bronx. It would have been nice to have the buses run a little later so when I had to detour because the 4 wasn’t running, I would just miss the last bus and have to take a cab.

[@ZontarDow]

One thing we really need is to figure out why construction costs are up 800% per mile for construction whej adjusted for inflation.

[@MitchDonovan]

USB ports on the rear seats of buses get kicked off routinely. Its not worth putting them there where the monkeys sit

[@ATOM-vv3xu]

"good for North America into just plain good"

[@MSTS33]

"Montreal express BRT" > I see what you did there 😂

[@andrewlonghofer]

4:45 I wonder if this is a function of both the US and Canada being federations, while a lot of unitary states don’t have some of these budget issues. Does this budgetary funding-for-new-stuff, none-for-maintenance-and-operation hit Australia, Switzerland, or Germany harder than France, the UK, South Korea, Japan?

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

All of those countries have quite different systems so its hard to generalise. Germany has issues with infrastructure maintenance, but thats more to do with bad policy than a bad system. And the UK although not being a federal state, still has alot of devolved power

[@mrvwbug4423]

Having the R211Ts replace a lot of the ancient rolling stock and renovating a lot of the stations would go a long way towards making the NYC Subway more pleasant. It already succeeds in hauling insane numbers of passengers, but always has a reputation for being old and dirty. Another thing that needs to happen is getting open gangway trains on LIRR and Metro North, especially since they often stop a stations shorter than the train so only the front cars open their doors. While you technically can traverse car pairs on both, it's awkward since you have to step outside and cross the little catwalk, and technically you're not supposed to do it and some conductors may take issue with it. Something akin to UK commuter trains like the Electrostars which are bi-articulated (can take curves faster than LIRR rolling stock) and fully walk through would be a huge improvement, MTA would just want to find a way to make them raw stainless since that's the iconic look of MTA trains.

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

I still just don't get why even the newest NYC trains look so bad.

[@Edwards-Videos]

If you are going to put in USB ports, may as well just put plugs in too.

[@filiptomic8531]

Montreal express BRT??

[@user-mrfrog]

I assume he is referring to the SRB Pie-IX. A bit confusing, showing the Montréal metro!

[@filiptomic8531]

@@user-mrfrog ohhh I thought he was making a joke calling the metro a BRT because it's on rubber tires

[@RMTransit]

That is correct@@filiptomic8531

[@hnitsua]

top 10 anime plot twists@@RMTransit

[@predarek]

Increase service in Montreal metro seems that it would increase the operating cost significantly. I’m wondering how much automation would cost compared to that in the long run (then we could run the subway much later during weekends)?

[@KyrilPG]

Paris is tremendously happy with automation, operating costs have significantly decreased for M1 & M4 after the conversion to full unattended operations while allowing on-the-fly service increase and higher frequency without cost increases (except obviously for electricity). All new metro lines are fully automated by default and more conversions of existing lines are to come (M13 and M11 at the top of the list). M14 was automated from day one and had the lowest cost per ridership of the network so it finished to convince the transit authorities that automation is the way to go. Plus, conversion to full automation is usually considered capital spending, not operational one.

[@RMTransit]

Toronto runs more service, Montreal shouldn't be way behind!

[@Anders.Stromgren]

Here in Stockholm, Sweden, we have USB charging on many buses and unfortunately vandalism of these, especially in the suburbs. We also have buses with wi-fi. The newest commuter trains have a 240V outlet at all seating areas.

[@sblack53]

The 320 Yonge and 300 Bloor-Danforth night buses in Toronto are busy 7 nights a week. Those also happen to be on subway corridors. Coincidence? Doubtful.

[@RoboJules]

For NYC, we need more unlicensed tamale vendors.

[@stephhugnis]

At least they have a job and provide a valuable service to society. Better than the "refugees" who are mooching off tax-payer dollars with free housing and cell phones in midtown.

[@anthonylamesa7619]

I'm not sure I agree that our subways are generally in a good state of repair. MARTA, BART, the MBTA, and the NYC Subway are all in pretty bad shape -- even compared to major Latin American cities.

[@JesusChrist-qs8sx]

A lot of the smaller, newer systems with only a couple lines are in decent shape but the older ones have decades of deferred maintenance from underfunding

[@anthonylamesa7619]

@@JesusChrist-qs8sx Yeah, it's remarkable. Like most Japanese metros were built at the same time as MARTA, but they are spotless and perfectly maintained. Despite the 1980s architecture, you feel great using them. Then you look at MARTA and it's literally crumbling -- apart from the poor cleaning and maintenance.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

They're just old and need more modern technology.

[@anthonylamesa7619]

@@crowmob-yo6ry The technology isn't the problem. It's maintenance and cleanliness.

[@RMTransit]

Afaik BART is alright, and I wasn't really talking about the general state in the US, just that there are some systems which are in pretty good shape.

[@AltAccount-yv9io]

"Montreal express BRT" I'm dying laughing!

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

Wouldnt leveling up a subway turn it into a tram?

[@RMTransit]

That sounds like a downgrade to me

[@barryrobbins7694]

So much money has been put into transit systems that it is hard to understand why some regions don’t spend that extra bit on things that make a system so much better. It will lead to more ridership and likely pay for itself anyway.

[@nihalthandi4175]

I will from now on refer to any rubber-tired metro as an express BRT

[@vette1]

York mills in Toronto has terrible way finding I wish it was better

[@ianweniger6620]

Reece, thank you for another can-do transit message. I needed this hit of politicial positivity after 45 days of 24-7 genocide on my feed. You get enough requests to cover one city or another or one issue or another. I don't want to impose but I know you can just ignore this one if it doesn't work for you. What about public transit in Gaza? I'm not tryna get you in trouble, honest! Other viewers musta asked before me. Gaza has the highest population density in the world. They used to have trains from Cairo to Beirut, didn't they? And the place never stopped growing along that rail corridor. Such a place must have some kind of transport infrastructure beyond taxis. Whaddya think?

[@AMPProf]

Woo

[@apbrit2009]

Security is a big problem on transit in America, people are far less likely to take the bus or train if they know they're going to be riding with mentally unstable drug addicts, most of whom aren't even paying their fare.

[@Skip6235]

Vancouver has the best metro system in North America, change my mind

[@Gatoraded27]

Buddy Vancouver is in Canada

[@TheRandCrews]

@@Gatoraded27how does that changes his point

[@guyfaux3978]

I subscribe to the Sonny the Capo principle-- in the movie A Bronx Tale, he talks about how "I treat my men good, but not TOO good" lest they start taking him for granted and lose respect for him. More kinds of bells and whistles on transit systems are more things that need to be properly maintained (i.e., $$$) and when they are not, you give the riders more reason to complain. I go for "lean and mean," a well-maintained but not overly gadgety ride that gets people where they're going before they can even miss there not being, e.g., USB ports.

[@robmausser]

Montreal Express BRT!!!! I love it 😂😂😂😂

[@InsertGreatChannelName]

Gutes Video ❤

[@torque4066]

Do a video on the bergen bus tram and rail and i will subscribe. Bergen in Norway.

[@haisheauspforte1632]

Come on, don't be rude, be patient pls

[@KyrilPG]

You're bargaining your subscription to extort a video about Bergen? Classy, real classy! 👏 🤦‍♂️

[@quoniam426]

Believe me, even Paris has some lessons to learn there... it's not perfect by any means. By the way you were supposed to release a Paris Tram video this year..

[@RMTransit]

I work really hard to make videos 7 days a week, please be patient.

[@ahmadfrw1]

You bus network must run at a higher frequency than a Metro Subway service. The subway should arrive every 2 to 5 minutes at Peak Hours and every 5 to 15 minutes during Middays, Evenings and Weekends. The bus network should arrive every 1 to 4 minutes during Peak Hours and every 3 to 8 minutes during Middays, Evenings and Weekends.

[@BanterEdits]

Video Idea: maybe cover the german TSB (Transport System Bögl), a low-speed maglev for regional and urban application. It's running in China and being tested in Berlin now.

[@RanadeS]

Please cover Delhi RRTS.

[@RMTransit]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZbOnaqYftSBpsksi=bJ9UJrqB50ZABhJz

[@iggieminana8371]

You should do a video on the tram that only ran for one day in Jaén, Spain. I've been told that the tram ran only for one day, and then a new political group came into power and stopped the program so now there are just rails in the street tripping people.