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The Paris Metro system.
If you want a better view, just google it, but I wanted an authentic photo for my blog! Okay, so for those of you who know me really well, you know that I have this strange fascination with public transit systems. Of all the places I've visited so far, Paris has the best urban transit system by far! The Metro is fantastic! This will be a pretty geeky post, so feel free to skip it!
So the Metro system consists of fourteen major lines, and two "bis" lines (I think it's 3b, and 8b). Each line generally runs in a fairly straight line overall, but they criss-cross with the other lines, so they whole system looks like a big spiderweb. There are three major types of trains, all of them run on tires (like you'd see on a bus), with rails to guide them.
Type one trains are painted green and white. They pretty much resemble TTC subway cars, but are smaller (about 3/4's the length, and 2/3rds the width). All types of trains have these seats that flip up for more space when the train is busy, and flip down for more seating when it's not as packed. None of the trains have air conditioning systems (I'm pretty sure the TTC has air conditioning, and heating),
but instead have windows that OPEN! They are all in the same style as our newer buses (they have a small panel that opens at the top), and provide a nice breeze during your trip, but can be closed if it's raining or cold. The first type, which is also the oldest, has a manual-automatic door opening system. When the train reaches a station, the operator presses a button to release the door locks, and passengers need to turn a lever to cause the doors to open. If no-one is getting on or off at a stop, the door won't open! The operator usually unlocks the doors BEFORE the train stops, and because it's easier to turn the latch then, most people open the doors while the train is still moving! How exciting!
Train type two works pretty much the same way, but it's got a button instead of a latch.
Train type three has fully automatic doors, and on line 14, has the station shield doors as well. While type one and two both have human drivers, type three is fully automated. This type of train is also designed like one giant articulated bus, each train consists
of multiple cars, which are joined together to form one single passenger compartment! You can walk from one end of the train to the other without passing through any doors!
A lot of stations are equipped with a "next train, and 2nd train" signs that tell you how long until they arrive. I never had to wait longer than 5 minutes for a train, generally during the day they ran every 2 minutes. Fantastic! Also, they have their tunnels/trains wired up for continuous cell phone service throughout the system.
In addition to the Metro, there are 5? RER lines, A through E (I think), which are basically GO trains that run every 10 minutes, and run underground. There are fewer stops than the Metro, so long trips take less time overall, and they are also the link to the suburbs.
Yay Transit!
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Okay I've finally found my phone pictures, so I thought I'd update this entry!
One of the things that I forgot to mention earlier is that since the Metro has been built over a century or more, the stations tend to be a bit labyrinthine. Just think of Spadina station,
it actually used to be two seperate stations on two different lines that they linked together with a long tunnel. In Paris, there are a few stations like that, but most of them have more than two lines connecting with each other. Tunnels go up and over, around, under, and beside all the other ones. This is especially true at stations that have 3 or more interchanges. Chatelet-Les Halles station is a pretty good example of this. It connects to five different lines, in addition to three RER lines. It has no fewer than 11 exits in different places! Most of the stations in Toronto have 2 or 3 exits tops. The good news is that the signage in the metro stations is generally excellent, so it's pretty easy to navigate. I still had the feeling of being stuck in a giant Habitrail© for humans at times though.
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