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The WMATA Metro has its share of problems, one of them being that it is a subway system that doesn't know whether it wants to be a commuter rail. It is a beautiful, clean, safe system (very little crime), but it has become overtaxed by the tremendous population growth in the area. It also has funding issues, as Virginia, Maryland, and the District can't seem to agree on the best way to obtain public funding for it. That said, it is a much more enjoyable ride than the NYC subway, even when it's packed. For starters, the stations don't smell like urine.
The better comparison between rails would be between MARC in Maryland/VRE in Virginia and the LIRR, and I would have to say that the LIRR wins simply because it doesn't shut down overnight, midday, or on the weekends. Despite train breakdowns--which happen everywhere and really, be glad you don't live in India or Russia with that--the LIRR is, IMO, the best commuter rail I've ever traveled. The seats are comfortable, the lines themselves were laid out very well, and given its workload, the system has held up extremely well from generation to generation. I actually enjoy riding the train (as long as I remember my Zune). I just wouldn't want to do it every day from Ronkonkoma, simply because of the distance and time.
I just wouldn't want to do it every day from Ronkonkoma, simply because of the distance and time.
Yea...it beats driving in from there during rush hour but sometimes I wish there were LESS stops lol. Gotta catch the express, about an hour into Penn and you can tell if they added the extra tracks and fixed the jamaica crawl that would probably improve a bit as well.
WMATA is the authority that controls all Subway/buses for the DC Metro. Sort of like the MTA in NYC. Commuter rail in Virginia is provided by VRE (Virginia Railway Express) and in Maryland by MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter)
I am wrong, I knew there was a commuter rail outfit down there, forgot it was VRE, andMARC
Well the LIRR is paradise compared to LI Bus. I sure hope it gets better when it's privatized.
bahahahahahaha
deep breath
bhahahahahahahaha
Edit: Mass transit costs money - tax money. It's not a profitable enterprise, it's a public service just like garbage collection. If you want better service, you have to be willing to pay for it.
Edit: Mass transit costs money - tax money. It's not a profitable enterprise, it's a public service just like garbage collection. If you want better service, you have to be willing to pay for it.
Roads are not profitable , Infastrature is not supposed to be profitable unless Tolled....or special user fees are added to drivers like in Europe in Asia.... But in a General sense Roads , Railways , Buses and water lines are not supposed to turn profit....
Freight does!, no other form of transportation will ever, with the exception of TBTA bridges & tunnels, those are overtolled so support the rest of the MTA
Freight does!, no other form of transportation will ever, with the exception of TBTA bridges & tunnels, those are overtolled so support the rest of the MTA
Some Freight does , but most Freight does not turn a profit....they use the bigger lines to prop up the smaller lines.
Some Freight does , but most Freight does not turn a profit....they use the bigger lines to prop up the smaller lines.
That is true, but the gains do outweigh the losses overall, as opposed to passenger rail, where even the NEC (Amtrak) which does make money, doesnt not support the rest of the system.
That is true, but the gains do outweigh the losses overall, as opposed to passenger rail, where even the NEC (Amtrak) which does make money, doesnt not support the rest of the system.
Amtrak is Intercity Rail , and a few other lines like the Keystone , Downstate , California system and Northwest breakeven...its the long distance lines that don't.
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