Boston transit priorities in no particular order: - Stations, vehicles, etc must be CLEAN and in good repair - Lighter trains on Red, Orange, Blue lines - Infrastructure in good repair - Dedicated bus lanes + transit-favoring traffic lights - Commuter rail to subway standards
Differences in tunnel dimensions or platform length can easily exist *within* a subway network (Tokyo's has 3 different gauges and at least 3 different power sources!). Wider station spacing is the same from rider's perspective as skip-stop services on more dense lines...
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...and low frequency is just a deficiency--nobody benefits from that. Differences between commuter rail and subways are generally arbitrary as they are both trying to accomplish the same goal: moving large numbers of people in constrained spaces. Same goal = convergent evolution
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I think there's a continuum though. The further I'm going, the more I want a seat, a toilet, a table, a power socket, a drinks trolley etc.
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Sure--and why shouldn't a train with all those features (assuming compatible infrastructure!) run through a subway tunnel?pic.twitter.com/a6nFTnOUwX
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In theory, nothing. In practice they're usually too different to run without an unacceptable capacity loss.
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Don't tell Tokyo Metro, they'll hate to hear they've caused unacceptable capacity loss!
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Attempting to run typical 160 km/h, low acceleration, two-sets-of-doors UK commuter MUs in the core of the London Underground *would* cause unacceptable capacity loss! (Even if you do it on the subsurface lines where they'd fit.)
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And why do they need to be limited to two sets of doors? Or have low acceleration? Even if you DON'T interoperate with the Tube, what advantages do these design choices have for passengers?
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More space for seats and a less jolty ride. Plus higher speed is more important than high acceleration on longer distance trains
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But isn't the Japanese concept that the *same* lines are both subway and commuter rail? Rather than having short-haul subways and long-haul commuter trains in separate tunnels?
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Japan has short-haul subway lines with no commuter rail through service, as well as short-haul subway lines with through service onto commuter rail, as well as commuter rail without subway through service.
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Their commuter lines have short-haul and long-haul services, intercity trunk lines offer short- and long-haul commuter services as well, etc etc
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We certainly see that in Britain, it's hard to tell where commuter becomes intercity sometimes. Especially now BR has gone.
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Yes! And given enough time, the difference will blur further, converging on the same form in urban areas.
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