I had occasion to spend a few days in Lisbon recently and of
course did several rides on the Metro.
My review? Nice
ride!
The system is well laid out, with four lines criss-crossing
one another in a dense network in the city center. Trains are clean and frequent. Stations are clean with clear signage and are decorated with
bright, tasteful station art – traditional Portuguese tiles with updated
images. Every major tourist and business destination in the center is served with
the exception of some in very hilly neighborhoods, which need special
treatment. (One clever solution is
found at the Baixa-Chiado station.
The station’s platforms are in the lower town – Baixa – but there is a
long escalator link to the Chiado district in the upper town. Photo of the Chiado entrance below). There are direct connections to
commuter rail and ferry terminals.
Maps and line charts are clear and easy to understand.
What demerits can be given? Not many. Some
of the underground transfers are long, but that’s a feature of most large
networks. Occasionally three-car
trains (as opposed to the normal 8 or 10) appear, with little warning, stop at
the top end of the platform, and zoom off as customers are still running down
the platform to catch it.
But overall an excellent system!
Why can’t we do that here? (And why do I have to keep asking this question?)
More on the other aspects of Lisbon transit (trams, buses,
funiculars, tuk-tuks, etc.) in another post.
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