Transit
How many jokes does it take to make Germany’s trains run on time?
Germany’s new government has pledged tens of billions to finally fix chronic decay and delays at the country’s national railway, the Deutsche Bahn. While they wait — and wait, and wait — Germans are having a laugh at the Bahn’s expense.
La Paz’s cable car system — the world’s longest and highest — is cutting down commute times
Sitting at 12,000 feet above sea level, Bolivia’s La Paz has the highest altitude of any administrative capital of any country in the world. And it boasts having a world class public transportation system. There are 10 lines and 26 stations. But this is no metro — it’s the longest and highest cable car system in the world.
A century-old British tram gets restored to its former glory
In the early 1900s, Brighton, England, was full of electric trams. But at the start of World War II, they were scrapped for the war effort. All of the trams were lost — or so historians thought. Then in 2009, one was discovered on a pig farm, and a team of locals have been working ever since to restore the tram to its original glory. Now, the group behind the restoration is hoping to get it running on tracks again, soon.
How Tokyo developed a culture of transit in a world of cars
Despite a population of 37 million, there’s relatively little congestion and pollution here since the majority of its residents rely on public transit rather than cars. But while Tokyo’s mass transportation system may serve as a global success story, it may not be replicable, because its organic growth over the decades has fostered a unique culture of transit.
How Japan keeps its trains safe from earthquakes
Japan experiences more earthquakes than any country. But its transit system remains remarkably safe. The bullet train, for example, has never seen a death or serious injury due to an earthquake or tsunami. Japan may offer lessons to other countries as climate change causes more natural disasters globally.
Japan’s transit system is private. Should other countries consider the same?
Transit in most global cities is government-run. But in Japan, that’s not the case. There, private companies run a sprawling network of trains, subways and buses, often considered the best in the world. What can other countries learn from Japan’s unique system?