One of the greatest questions we, the modern city-dwellers, face, is how we can build more flexible MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit Systems) in and across our cities. With time, the population of cities have risen, nearly everywhere across the planet. Be it New York, the US or Mumbai, India, the population pressure seems to be forever rising.
It can be fairly argued that a city is much like the human body. Analogous to the blood vessels inside the human body, that transport blood and corpuscles, the cities have roads and transportation infrastructure, that cater to an analogous system of transportation. For the collective well-being of cities, therefore, it is essential that powerful and reliable MRT systems are placed beforehand.
There are many metro systems serving the cities of modern countries, and it is impossible to list them all, here. So, let us quickly look at 5 unique metro systems, each of which feature something worth noting.
Five unique, record-holding metro systems
1. World's longest metro: Seoul Metropolitan Subway, South Korea
[ Source: http://goo.gl/t8BCCX ]
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway System, a network of 9 lines serving the greater metropolitan area of Seoul, South Korea, is the longest metro system in the world, with more than 952 km of system length. Covering a network of 617 stations and counting, it has been declared the world's best metro station by CNN, as well as dubbed Super Highway by the BBC. It is noted for its cleanliness, as well as the use of hi-tech facilities like 4G LTE internet connectivity, WiFi access, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) etc aboard the trains and stations.
2. World's most connected metro: New York Subway
No matter whether you've been to New York or not, you'll have to appreciate the technological sophistication of the subway system that connects a network of 468 stations across the length and breadth of New York City and beyond.
3. World's busiest metro: Beijing Subway
[ Source: http://goo.gl/LXfI9P ]
The Beijing Subway, once again a showcase of China's development and sophistication, is currently the busiest operating metro system across the globe. Around 3210 million people travelled on the system in 2013. Starting its operations in the 1970s, the Beijing subway network was the oldest metro network in mainland China, and to this day it continues to serve the people of Beijing.
Currently, with more than 11.5 million people riding its locomotives each day, the Beijing Subway is also sometimes regarded as the most efficient metro system in the world, although this can be disputed.
4. World's greenest metro: Delhi Metro (India)
[ Source: http://goo.gl/QyqVg3 ]
The Delhi Metro System, serving the Indian national capital territory and the greater National Capital Region (NCR) is usually regarded as the world's most eco-friendly metro system. The largest system in South Asia, Delhi metro is the first metro system ever to earn carbon credits from the United Nations for utilization of eco-friendly technologies. Techniques such as photoelectricity generation, rainwater harvesting and regenerative braking systems on trains have contributed to an increased level of energy efficiency in the system.
5. World's oldest metro system: the London Underground (UK)
No one can deny that the forerunner in terms of modern MRTS technology is definitely the London Underground, also commonly known as the Tube. One of the most efficient such systems in the world, the London Underground started its journey with the beginning of operations of the Metropolitan Railway in 1863.
Currently it is the fourth longest metro system in the world, with a system length of more than 402 km, distributed over a network of 270 stations.
Image courtesy: Wikimedia
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