I recently took a trip to Washington, DC, home of one of the most impressive metro systems I've ever experienced. Here's what makes it so special to me. #washington #dcmetro #wmata #transit #railfans
Washington Metro is easily one of the most impressive metro systems in the world when it comes to its aesthetics, shame that the new trains will not have that brown and white colors :(
DC metro rider here. The system is good - really good, no "for America" disclaimer needed. However, I think its biggest issue is that it's missing some "usefulness". There are some serious lack of connections on the system. For example, it was built to transport from suburb to city, so the connections within the city center are actually relatively poor. Interestingly enough, whereas most transit systems strengthen the downtown core, Dc's metro probably strengthened polycentrism. And I think this is why DC metro's ridership struggles compared to Canadian systems that offer a comparable amount or even less service. What's the point of a great system if it doesn't get used? Apart from that, things like platform screen doors, CBTC, increasing the speed limit, and reintroducing ATO would be nice, and they're planning on doing that. Express services are pretty much useless in my opinion. The system is already fast enough (Union station -> Dulles is only 10 mins slower than driving avoiding tolls WITHOUT traffic).
The long headways on the branches of the system that interline in the urban core is the result of WMATA not procuring rolling stock in large enough numbers to keep pace with the build out of the system. WMATA has never had enough rolling stock to provide 2 minute on the interlined trunk segments of the system. That is why WMATA includes number of cars on the next train information displays. That rolling stock shortage has existed sense 1983. The person telling you this has been following the build out of the system sense just after they started poring concrete in 1970.
@@qjtvaddict eh i was more or less talking about in terms of funding of course, smart serves sonoma and caltrain serves the peninsula, while bart serves the remainder
the washington metro has the worst safety track record, the most derailments, the most accidents, and the most fatalities, of any rail transit system in the entire world. just FYI.
bro have you ever been to dc? lmao the metro is great, its extremely useful and it covers the whole dmv. its also safe, the only reason for that stat is because of the one crash back in like 2009 which was a freak accident
@@paulfromsw3058 it's had multiple crashes "bro". and a TON of other issues. ATC has never worked properly, massive leaks and other problems, etc. but thanks for letting me know you've done absolutely zero research into your own system's history. "lmao" 🙄
@@qjtvaddictgenerally speaking yes that's true. though some specific areas do do a better job than others. DC is particularly terrible - though given how terrible and corrupt the US government is that's based there, this sadly shouldn't really surprise anyone.
Dude, what are you even talking about? The DC Metro is a disastrous system. Defunct pretty much from their first day of operations. Unable to use its own automatic train control, and driven manually for decades on trains that were supposed to be fully automated like BART. Wildly unsafe. With regular derailments, fires, total malfunctions. And, it has every single one of BART's failings with none of BART's advantages. It's 10 mph slower than BART. Does not have the automatic train control. Does not have the cross platform transfers that make an heavily interlined system at least somewhat worth it. But hey, it still has the interlining! At least most of BART runs in a thin sliver of dense development pinned in by hills on one side and the Bay on the other. The rest of your trip to most destinations can always be done via pretty quick bus ride. If you really really needed to, you could even walk to most of your destinations from BART. (might take you an hour in some cases, but still doable) The DC Metro has the same super-sparse S-bahn-like stop pattern that's so inappropriate for a true urban subway/metro system, but is trying to cover a gigantic circular area. Try living with the DC Metro for a month and then we'll see if can still argue that it's the "best subway in the country"!
@@chickennuggetcentral576 BART > DC Metro. And it's not even remotely close. The only thing DC Metro has on BART is that the Feds invested about 2x more and got about 2x more lines and stations for the nation's capital. Pound for pound, BART is better at everything from basic technical aspects to broader planning, expansion, and service. Literally everything was and is done better on BART than on the DC Metro.
The DC metro despite it's issues, seems like a really great system, safety is like the same when compared to BART (aka media fear mongering) The core issues with accidents, and problems with it's ATO system are being addressed and will be getting better in the near future, every transit system has those decline waves once in their life time, just to pick up and keep on going.
The only metro in America that can compare to DC’s metro or some may say there’s is better because it’s 24 hours is New York’s. Those are the two best metro systems in America.
@@washingtondc9290 That is nonsensical. BART has better peak frequencies in the core. It has a 100% brand new modern fleet that is actually now the youngest fleet on the continent. And BART is actually modernizing to beyond modern standards with Hitachi CBTC and doubling frequencies. The Washington metro is perpetually on fire/broken down/late. The train control system is still broken and they drive their "automatic trains" manually. It's nowhere near the quality of BART. Not even remotely close. Your personal feelings aside, on an objective level BART is faaaaaaar superior.
I can't speak on any other city rail lines, but I'm really surprised to see you complimenting the DC metro. The noise in a tunnel is extremely loud, it seems like the whole system is really mismanaged, and the lighting in underground stations is creepy. I don't know any other rail lines that well, but jeez the others mist be terrible if you like the metro