5 Global Subways That Define Their Cities
On April 29, 2016, 'India's Silicon Valley' Bengaluru joined the league of cities with underground Metro routes, or subways. The underground section in Bengaluru links Cubbon Park to railway station, connecting the east-west corridor of the city. With this, the Karnataka capital has moved a step towards creating roads with manageable traffic and low air and noise pollution.
A product of industrial revolution, subways are a backbone of public transport in the city where they are present. Apart from its various economical, technological and environmental benefits, a subway aptly caters to the commuting needs of a city's growing populace. This has a direct impact on the way people work and behave, improving their overall performance.
PropGuide lists five subways across the world that have reinvented the public transportation networks in their cities.
The busiest subway in the United States of America, New York City Subway became operational in 1904 and is open on all days of the year. With a total of 421 stations, the subway covers the five boroughs of New York where a large number of public transport users live -- Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Bronx. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 1.76 billion riders were carried by the subway last year. This was an increase of almost 12 per cent over those carried in 2009.
Opened in 1900, the Paris Métro is a symbol of the city meeting the travelling needs of commuters on a daily basis. With architecture inspired by Art Nouveau, this 214-km-long subway with 303 stations meets the transportation needs of more than a million passengers every day. There are 16 lines in all; they can be recognised by their number and colour.
Spain invested a large amount of resources in creating the world's eighth-longest metro system. The Madrid Metro became part of the Spain's infrastructure in 1919. With 13 lines covering as many as 300 stations across the city, around 3 million people commute by the Metro on a daily basis. This fastest-growing public transport network is the answer to the city's growing commuting needs. The tariff is around 2 euros per journey for most of the lines and 1.50 euros for a few lines. Season tickets are also issued for less than 23-year-olds and for pensioners above 65 years.
The Shanghai Metro is one of the rapidly growing Metro systems of China. Inaugurated in 1993, the system covers 439 kilometres which makes it the world's longest Metro network. It comprises 263 stations covering a large part of the city.
London Underground operates in Greater London, England. Inaugurated as an “underground railway” in 1863, it became a Metro system with the launch of its first electric line in 1890. The network comprises 11 lines, providing an easy access to convenient public transportation facilities. The system covers 270 stations on a 400-km route. The convenience and cost-effectiveness have led to an increase in its ridership. In 2014-15, the Metro carried 1.305 billion passengers, making it the world's 11th-busiest metro system. The introduction of the travel card system and contactless ticketing have made commuting easier. Specially abled travellers and people above 60 years of age are entitled to a discount.