Worst Light Rail in America? | Riding the VTA Orange Line LRT

[@WildWuff]

As someone who uses it often (I even start my transit adventures in the Milpitas transit center), the system is definitely the most underutilized in the entire west coast with wacky TOD at the majority of stations. But otherwise... it is one of the transit systems of all time.

[@msptransit]

Yes, it is one of the transit systems of all time.

[@EvoBlue66]

Fantastic and unique captures, And hope you had a great day spotting, always keep up what you do, and to what you enjoy, for always I’m sure many look forward to seeing more great works from you any day, as it gets betters by everydays! 🚂

[@msptransit]

Many thanks! :)

[@TohaBgood2]

What a bunch of bullcrap! It's idiotic that a ton of supposedly pro-transit "influencers" are teaming up to dunk on VTA light rail. There are lot of other light rail systems that are a lot worse. Despite what you are implying, it's actually fine bordering on being pretty nice.. The trains are generally pretty clean. It's a loooooot faster than even many metros with excellent signal priority and a lot of grade separated right of way. I mean, VTA light rail is faster than the NY subway and the Paris Metro. It's even faster than driving on some sections! The real issue with VTA light rail is that they couldn't overpower the NIMBYs and used a ton of old freight right of way and highway medians. They planned to try to do battle with the NIMBYs again and will on TOD, but the NIMBYs crushed them as well there for the first couple of decades. Now they're adding a ton of TOD and ridership is recovering nicely from pre-pandemic. With the new BART and boosted electric Caltrain transfers this system will thrive, even if it took 30 years to get it there.

[@msptransit]

I never said that it was the worst light rail, I just stated that others said it was the worst. The intent was to share my one experience on it and to test the passenger experience on it. I had a blast riding it!

[@TohaBgood2]

@@msptransit Watching your video that's not at all the impression I got. It looked like you were just trying to join in on the bashing for "the worst light rail line in the US"

[@history_leisure]

They look like knock off Stadler GTW’s tbh

[@msptransit]

Yeah