Moscow

[daveklepper]

A non-railfan freind just returned from a vacation trip to Moscow, where he has relatives.   They own a car, but all his travel was by public transportation.   They met him at the airport, went by train (2  or three stops) to the central railroad station, and then subway to their home.  He attended one ballet performance, one opera performane, and one operetta performance.   All this travel to each of the three theatres was by subway.  He saw streetcars and trolleybuses, but did not use them.   The return to the airport was the reverse of the arrival, with NO use of the family car!   He said the trains and subways were comfortable, clean, and fast.

[Phoebe Vet]

I do the same thing when I go to DC.  I stay in Capital Heights, where hotels are much cheaper, and never use a car.  The Metro trains and buses go everywhere I need or want to go.

[narig01]

 If you spend the money on maintaining appearances(graffitti, trash , etc) and pay attention to the details you will have a systems that people will want to ride.

Rgds IGN

[troynm]

I rode the subway in St. Petersburg a few times although it was partly at my request. Generally we used my tour guide's car. The stations were ok to nice, but the subway cars were from the 50's or 60's (my guess) although fairly clean and maintained not to mention 50 coats of paint. I found those in New York (commuter train) and Washington DC (subway) much nicer, especially DC.

[daveklepper]

Other friends, railfans, have reported that the Moscow transit system is in general in better shape than St. Pete's, and that auto usage is far higher in St. Pete, with many reserved right of way streetcar lines that could be modern light rail converted into additional street and highway lanes and buses used that get bogged down in traffic.   Similarly, the buses in St. Pete are mostly diesel but those in Moscow trolleybuses.   What streetcar tracks remain in the still extensive St. Pete system are not maintained very well while those in Moscow are in tiptop shape.