Are Elevated or Underground Metro Systems Better?
video description
The further you get to the outskirts it makes sense to let the underground lines get up onto ground level. Below ground lines aren't exposed to the weather conditions above, unless it's like on the NYC subway which gets flooded in case of a hurricane.
Date: 2023-12-05
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Comments and reviews: 14
AmyLExtraordinaire
I'm not sure how this keeps coming up but I am reasonably certain the Chicago 'L' do not have streetcar origins like what RM Transit said or what you just mentioned at 4: 10 that the original loop was a trolley loop. As far as I am aware, that was never true. The loop was an intentional combination of the already existing South Side and Lake Street 'L's, with the Metropolitan being completed soon after. Even the originally constructed portion of the Loop was just the extension of the Lake Street 'L' to Wabash, branching away from its initial water street terminus
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I'm not sure how this keeps coming up but I am reasonably certain the Chicago 'L' do not have streetcar origins like what RM Transit said or what you just mentioned at 4: 10 that the original loop was a trolley loop. As far as I am aware, that was never true. The loop was an intentional combination of the already existing South Side and Lake Street 'L's, with the Metropolitan being completed soon after. Even the originally constructed portion of the Loop was just the extension of the Lake Street 'L' to Wabash, branching away from its initial water street terminus
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FoxBoi69
i think it shouldn't be such a dividing question. it should be a question for each part of each line. vienna has 6 underground lines. not a single one of them is entirely underground. 2 of them (u4 and u6) are mostly above ground. u1 and u2 are underground in the city center but as they go into the outer districts they come out of the ground and are elevated and sometimes also at grade.
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i think it shouldn't be such a dividing question. it should be a question for each part of each line. vienna has 6 underground lines. not a single one of them is entirely underground. 2 of them (u4 and u6) are mostly above ground. u1 and u2 are underground in the city center but as they go into the outer districts they come out of the ground and are elevated and sometimes also at grade.
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kenobi-san2306
The two lines in the Santo Domingo metro both have underground and elevated portions. They're extending line 2 and eventually line 1 with what appears to be mostly above ground tracks. Like you mentioned in the video it seems the downtown portions were made underground to not disturb those important streets while further out the elevated parts are used more.
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The two lines in the Santo Domingo metro both have underground and elevated portions. They're extending line 2 and eventually line 1 with what appears to be mostly above ground tracks. Like you mentioned in the video it seems the downtown portions were made underground to not disturb those important streets while further out the elevated parts are used more.
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ethanallen922
Falling under the cost to build for subways is the composition of the ground. Chicago used to be a swamp so digging tunnels is very expensive. So even though downtown Chicago is dense the L will never go underground as the swampy ground makes cost prohibitive and the caissons from the skyscrapers would have to be planned around.
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Falling under the cost to build for subways is the composition of the ground. Chicago used to be a swamp so digging tunnels is very expensive. So even though downtown Chicago is dense the L will never go underground as the swampy ground makes cost prohibitive and the caissons from the skyscrapers would have to be planned around.
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spartan117zm
There s no right answer to this question. Cities should build the transit that is most suitable for the location and situation at hand, period. Whether it is elevated or underground matters very little so long as it is accessible, frequent, reliable, cost effective, and generally gets the job done in the best way possible.
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There s no right answer to this question. Cities should build the transit that is most suitable for the location and situation at hand, period. Whether it is elevated or underground matters very little so long as it is accessible, frequent, reliable, cost effective, and generally gets the job done in the best way possible.
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Urbanhandyman
Elevated railways are to be avoided at all costs. They are never silent, they always have a major visual impact, they always take ground level land permanently away from better uses. Placing heavy rail underground is superior in every way. Cost is the only factor favoring elevated rail. Find the funds, build underground.
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Elevated railways are to be avoided at all costs. They are never silent, they always have a major visual impact, they always take ground level land permanently away from better uses. Placing heavy rail underground is superior in every way. Cost is the only factor favoring elevated rail. Find the funds, build underground.
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chow-chihuang4903
As a rider, I prefer trains with a view. As a resident, I d prefer they be underground due to the noise. There are pros and cons to each, but I d rather have rail transit than none, so whatever gets built and used is fine with me.
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As a rider, I prefer trains with a view. As a resident, I d prefer they be underground due to the noise. There are pros and cons to each, but I d rather have rail transit than none, so whatever gets built and used is fine with me.
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Felix-nz7lq
The advantage of building them at ground level as opposed to the alternatives is that you can cheaply build them out into unpopulated areas and then have development follow as a result of the metro line. See Oslo as an example of this.
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The advantage of building them at ground level as opposed to the alternatives is that you can cheaply build them out into unpopulated areas and then have development follow as a result of the metro line. See Oslo as an example of this.
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city_beautiful
I usually dislike elevated metros, but my view changes with line 3 of Guadalajara line 3 is so pretty and enjoys both of the world. Also, I think it is better to have monorail for as aesthetic, but they capacity is limited.
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I usually dislike elevated metros, but my view changes with line 3 of Guadalajara line 3 is so pretty and enjoys both of the world. Also, I think it is better to have monorail for as aesthetic, but they capacity is limited.
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thomasblyth7539
Its worth noting that on the noise front, a new concrete elevated line will be much much quieter than the 100 year old lines with steel supporting structures that we have in Chicago and NYC
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Its worth noting that on the noise front, a new concrete elevated line will be much much quieter than the 100 year old lines with steel supporting structures that we have in Chicago and NYC
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JesusChrist-qs8sx
Chicago's L has unfortunately not recovered from the pandemic, while also suffering from the same flaws all US transit systems do in existing solely for feeding into downtown
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Chicago's L has unfortunately not recovered from the pandemic, while also suffering from the same flaws all US transit systems do in existing solely for feeding into downtown
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frogandspanner
0: 49 It's like the city knew it had some of the best architecture in the United States, with that hideous background: who said Americans don't do irony?
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0: 49 It's like the city knew it had some of the best architecture in the United States, with that hideous background: who said Americans don't do irony?
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SALVATl0N
I know it's not possible, but in a city where you wouldn't need cars and you don't need traditional streets, underground subway would be amazing.
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I know it's not possible, but in a city where you wouldn't need cars and you don't need traditional streets, underground subway would be amazing.
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Chris6d
As a New Yorker, I absolutely love the classic look of an el train. Nothing beats it! Wish more cities in the U. S. had it
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As a New Yorker, I absolutely love the classic look of an el train. Nothing beats it! Wish more cities in the U. S. had it
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