Home » Travel & Places » Western Europe

Visiting the Paris Metro, the London Tube and the German U-Bahn

4 Comments

0 Like

Like 0

Pin It

Ranked #12,844 in Travel & Places, #313,392 overall

European Capital cities often have excellent public transportation systems. Some are above ground, like the famous surface street tram and elevated S-Bahn train systems in Germany. Others are underground, like the Paris Metro or London's Tube. What these systems all have in common is the ability to get you where anywhere within the city limits without a need for any sort of private transportation.

The German Bahn

Deutsche Bundesbahn, S-bahn, U-bahn

Germany has a diverse and effective transportation system that extends far beyond the metro. You can use public transportation to travel from any international airport to your final destination, even if it's a small German town. Traveling from the airport to any destination city is easy when you use the Deutsch Bundesbahn. This excellent train system is fast, clean, timely and reliable. Once you arrive at any sizable city, you'll generally have the option of traveling by Strassebahn (the surface street, electrical tram system) or U-Bahn (the underground subway system). Big German cities like Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg (as well as others) also have the S-Bahn which is a heavier rail system that runs from the main city to the suburbs. One of the most remarkable things about the German system is that it operates on the honor system. Although you are required to buy a ticket and validate it in a ticket machine, you don't have to pass through a gate or turnstile to access the train. But traveling without a ticket carries risks, inspectors regularly board the trains and ask all passengers to show a valid ticket. Traveling without one means you are subject to a fine that is up to approximately 20 times more expensive than the cost of a ticket. So better think twice before risking it!

The Paris Metro

Paris public transportation is like France itself, excellent in some respects and less than desirable in others. The Paris Metro underground subway system has been called the best in the world. It officially opened in 1901 and it has 14 lines with over 300 stations. It's the second busiest underground system in the world in terms of the number of passengers (Moscow is first). The average distance between stations is 500 meters, which means that the Metro is never far from your hotel or luxury apartment in Paris. The classic Art Deco entrances to its underground stations are the hallmark of the Paris Metro and this unexpected art form is complemented by the many stations that are designed in accordance with themes that match their location. Stations like Arts et Metiers, Concorde, and Louvre are tourist attractions in their own right. Unlike the German system, the French Metro requires you to pass through a gate or turnstile to access the train. Although this discourages cheating, it makes traveling without a ticket an adventure sport for some of the French youth. While the system is cheap in comparison to the London and German systems, the system is regularly compromised by strikes, which means if you live in Paris for any length of time, you'll surely experience a day when the Metro is very infrequent, or completely unavailable due to a "social movement", as the strikes are referred to in France.

The London Underground

London's subway station is called "The Tube" or simply, "The Underground". Opened in 1863, the Tube is the oldest underground railway in the world. Serving more than 1 billion passengers a year, it's also the third busiest in the world. The Tube is an artistic and cultural icon with its logo and map being considered works of art. Equally famous, the electrical schematic style layout of the London Tube Map has been copied by the majority of Metro systems around the world. Because London is a very big city and traffic often reaches nightmare proportions, the Tube is an important transportation resource. Nonetheless, it can still get better as it is quite expensive compared to many other metropolitain subway systems, it lacks air conditioning, and due to continual work and upgrades, lines are regularly closed for work.

Riding the Public transportation is a great way to experience a new city while on vacation. The many interesting facts and trivia offered by the different transportation systems are a fun part of discovering new cities and riding them ensures that you'll make the most of your vacation time.

Link List

The Paris Metro: Overview of the Paris Metro system
The London Tube: Overview of the London Underground

Guestbook Comments

Reply

GavvyB Apr 26, 2012 @ 8:54 pm | delete

Regretfully, I have to correct you regarding the Parisian Métro entrances. They are NOT Art Déco, rather Art Nouveau, created by Guimard

Reply

JonathanT May 5, 2012 @ 7:55 am | delete

Thanks for your correction. i've updated the article. Art Deco would, however, apply to many London Underground stations

Reply

Serenia Dec 26, 2011 @ 9:23 am | delete

What about Moscow? That city also has an excellent underground rail system too.

Reply

JonathanT Dec 28, 2011 @ 2:06 pm | delete

Well, I mentioned Moscow's subway as the busiest in the world, but didn't want to say much about it as I haven't been there yet!