[itszjay]

What would you like to see in you dram metro system, it has to be something that is possible.

My List *(There is many system in the world that is like this, just wish every system is like this)
-Station with at least 4 head house
-Open Gangway Train
-Platform Screen Doors
-Week day Headway (2 min Peak) (3 min Rush hour) (4/5 min Mid.Day) (6/7 min Night)
-Week End Headway (3 min Rush hour) (4/5 min Mid.Day) (6/7 min Night)
-ADA
-Backlid Ads
-Bright Lighting
-Good service

So what's your dream list?

[Cirrus]

One that's extensive and convenient.

I don't care about extras like two-level mezzanines and platform screen doors. Frankly, I'd rather spend that money on extending the system or shortening headways.

[llamaorama]

-Automated Trains capable of 2 min headways
-urban focused grid-type network rather than a hub-and-spoke
-Mix of old and new infrastructure with loads of character
-I think for trains I would want ones that are simple and have that classic stainless steel look like those in Chicago or Baltimore. But with A/C and modern interiors.

[phillyscooter]

Unified classic Headhouse Markers (WMATA, Paris Metopolitan come to mind), a spoke and radial system to move through the innter core and first generations suburbs creating a fabric of dense villages and neighborhoods, classical or jazz music at strong levels in corridors to deter mischef, and AC that works in summer and heat in winter, not the other way around.

And $5 billion for each of the top 25 cities in the us to do this.

[itszjay]

wouldn't it to save money if every station has the same design, but different color scheme? This would reduce those design cost. And would it be possible to built an metro line (around 20km, 18 station) with 1 to 1.5 Billion, with all these things?

[Cirrus]

>wouldn't it to save money if every station has the same design

No.

That was initially the idea with the DC Metro, but it turns out site-specific issues require site-specific solutions.

Stations should use a uniform set of materials to save costs, but the design has to vary. For example, sometimes you need a center platform with outside tracks, and sometimes you need central tracks with outside platforms.

[alexjon]

I would use buses.

[The Chemist]

>wouldn't it to save money if every station has the same design

No.

That was initially the idea with the DC Metro, but it turns out site-specific issues require site-specific solutions.

Stations should use a uniform set of materials to save costs, but the design has to vary. For example, sometimes you need a center platform with outside tracks, and sometimes you need central tracks with outside platforms.

I dunno, the Shanghai metro has very similar design in almost every station - pretty much every underground station I can think of is centre island (except for Nanpu Bridge, which is stacked due to the location of underground bridge foundations). It's a little boring, yes, but it's got to save money on design.

[MayorOfChicago]

One that pays me $100 every time I get on, and has free margaritas from 10am to midnight 7 days a week.

[Cirrus]

I dunno, the Shanghai metro has very similar design in almost every station Perhaps there are not many site-specific differences in Shainghai.

Once again, uniform station design was the original plan for the DC Metro. The plan changed because it would have cost much more to pigeonhole a uniform design into sites that weren't suited for it than it did to modify the design based on the needs of each station.

All subway stations in DC have the same basic concrete vault design and use all the same materials, but where the specifics of the site require modifications from the standard design, those modifications are made.

[Justin10000]

Dream Metro system:

-A Station within 1 - 3km of every person
-Driver or Automated Trains with large railfan windows
-3 min headways peak, 5-10 non peak
-system designed such a way to permit 24 hour service.
-good connections with surface bus, and LRT/Commuter rail lines.

[FREKI]

I'm pretty darn happy with the Copenhagen Metro - if anything I'd like it to be a little wider with a little softer seats

So like this with wider softer seating and stations everywhere ( and less drunk students of course :D )

VZr_hPr0vTM

( I really need to do a Metro video soon - there no good one on YouTube :( )

[staff]

Speaking of the Copenhagen Metro. All underground stations are basically identical in this system. Frederiksberg St. looks a bit different, but it's kind of semi-underground.

[itszjay]

The uniformity of station might also help traveler, and younger people. And all parts of station (Light, Flooring) would be the same so it can be mass order.

Also I feel sometime some island platform are too small. Island Platform Should be bigger like ones in Shanghai or Guangzhou. I prefer Island Platform over Side platform.

I don't know about other people, but i prefer having more Ads, it adds more color to the station and train.

[JDRCRASH]

http://la.metblogs.com/archives/images/2006/09/goodmon_final.gif

[itszjay]

That would be cool for LA. LA should get an better system, which of them are subway, which one are LRT?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

The good thing for LA is that a lot of that is either under construction, or will be in the next 10 - 15 years with the passage of Measure R. now, it wont all be grade separated hrt, but still a vast improvement.

[Krases]

I kinda wish our monorail system here in Vegas saw an expansion. Ridership is going up slowly but it is so very limited. Plus Vegas is a driving city and is not pedestrian friendly at all.

It would be nice to see the monorail connect to both the west side of the strip, the airport and downtown. Then at least we would have something beyond double deck buses.

[itszjay]

Well, Vegas monorail system is not a gov. own system. So it all depends on how well the company is doing which doesn't seem that good

[NYaMtl]

Perhaps there are not many site-specific differences in Shainghai.

Once again, uniform station design was the original plan for the DC Metro. The plan changed because it would have cost much more to pigeonhole a uniform design into sites that weren't suited for it than it did to modify the design based on the needs of each station.

All subway stations in DC have the same basic concrete vault design and use all the same materials, but where the specifics of the site require modifications from the standard design, those modifications are made.

In Montreal, as well, whose bedrock layers are fairly variable, dramatic site-specific limitations meant it probably saved money to design each station individually. It is still pretty much in tunnel or cut and cover, and with a few notable exceptions in cladding or tilework, the materials between all the stations are the same. Still an impressive variety of features--and even the ugly ones stick out mostly for being boring in comparison to others on the network.

In any case, I seem to recall awhile back that on www.metrodemontreal.com there was an interesting map, something like "the metro in 2050," along those lines. I'd have to say--my dream here is simply more coverage and higher off-peak frequencies. Maybe some sprucing up and a few new trains. I'm very happy with the system here otherwise, even the convenience stores at top or in the paid area at transfer stations...handy when you're in the morning rush, have a few minutes before the next train, and want a muffin/bad coffee/granola bar/banana.

[galaca]

something like this would be great

http://www.cfpt.org/images/wctv/hires.gif

[OhioGuy]

A good rail system to me would:
1) operate 24/7
2) have frequent service
3) have double tracks to avoid slow downs when track work must be done
4) connects to every great neighborhood & employment center in the city
5) grade separated
6) clean
7) low cost & doesn't run on a distance based fare system

[Lear]

The largest rail metro system in the world, combining fast overground (S-Bahn) and underground (U-Bahn) services. The S-Bahn metro has high comfort standard with large windows allowing daylight and panorama city views. Both systems are clean, seldom crowded, punctual, providing modern airconditioned vehicles, state of the art information system including multilingual Online-,SMS- Plattform- Wagon-services. 24 hour service on weekends, Easy access (no gate check points).

Simply excellent, in other words, BERLIN.

http://exberliner.net/cityguide/wp-content/themes/exber-wm/img/SUMetro.gif
Copyright Exberliner / Map courtesy BVG

[Halifax Hillbilly]

All right here goes:

*Express and local trains (as in New York)
*A mixture of classic old stations and bold new modern stations (kind of like London)
*Rubber tires (so much quieter)
*Smart cards
*Busy stations have double platforms (one for exiting the train, one for entering)
*Accessible
*Great map and branding- London again
*Easy connections to bus, light rail, commuter rail, airports and regional train
*Onboard services - porters with coffee, tea & snacks for sale, apparently this is quite common in many developing countries
*A/C
*Comfy seats/fold down seats for when it's busy
*Connected cars

[Smiley Person]

- bar car
- heated seats
- jukeboxes
- cupholders
- operable windows
- fuzzy dice

[itszjay]

I would love to get bench style seating like the ones on R160 and R142, they would fit more people during rush hour, if you think of it.

And for new trains I 100% prefer Connected cars.

[volguus zildrohar]

I think everybody's list will read more or less the same - everybody wants frequent, 24/7 service that connects to major hubs and important areas and actually circulates riders within the central city as opposed to shuttling them from one end of it to the other (or at least facilitating that function).

Since we're posting ready-made fantasy maps, here's one of the best for Philadelphia:

http://www.triviaart.com/images/Septa-Fantasy-2.gif

[amor de cosmos]

i've read that during Expo 67 in Montreal the monorail used had two different types of lines:

First, the Minirail, as it was called, operated two different kinds of trains on three different loop systems. One set of trains was constructed in Switzerland in 1964. The other set of trains was constructed in Montreal especially for the expo. Secondly, the system ran over water, through the giant "skybreak geodesic dome" of the United States Pavilion (What is it with the "big ball" at these things? Look at the Perisphere at the '39 World's Fair, the Unisphere at the '64 World's Fair--or is that thing even still there after the movie Men in Black?--and the theme pavilion at Expo 86, not to mention Spaceship Earth at Epcot.), and beneath water falls while giving its passengers an all-inclusive view of the fairgrounds while whisking them on their way to their next destination.
http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/Expo67.html

The cool thing about that monorail system is that if someone wanted to transfer from a train on a small loop to the blue line, the cars would ride side-by-side & hitch together so people could safely step from one train to the other while they were still in motion. That was possible, although on a relatively small scale, in 1967! I have no doubt that it would be possible today to have small-time local trains serving neighbourhoods, & hitch them to bigger, high-capacity mainline trains to get people to/from a downtown or something. I think that would make a big difference since commuters lose a lot of time when transferring. I think the idea was originally used at the Lausanne World's Fair in 1964 & expanded in Montreal.