It goes without saying that it’s more fun to travel to a city if you can easily tour around its destinations. No wonder countries worldwide boast their impressive public transit systems, such as buses, subways, boats, and trains that can cheaply and quickly take you wherever you want to go.
Many countries are taking their public transit system very seriously, and Singapore is not an exception. The Lion City takes pride in its multi-modal public transport operator called SMRT, which offers a safe, reliable, and comprehensive transport network in different rail lines around the country.
Traveling during a pandemic has stressed the need for dependable transportation when getting around a country. People are opting to ride vehicles instead of walking to reach destinations quickly and safely.
Among the common transport options, trains are becoming increasingly popular for slow travelers who want to get around a city by enjoying its sights while in motion. For this reason, countries around the world are boasting of their railway systems to provide reliable, safe, and comfortable transportation for their citizens and tourists. So if you plan to travel by train on your next out-of-the-country trip, here are the best rail systems around the world known for their charm, speed, affordability, and efficiency.
1. Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Home to global leading electronics and ICT companies, such as Samsung and LG Electronics, no wonder South Korea comes first on our list with the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
Seoul is South Korea’s bustling capital and is one of the highly populated cities worldwide, with a population density of 16,000 per square kilometer. Despite its growing population, Seoul has been recognized for its clean, fast, and communication-friendly metro railway system.
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway carries seven million passengers daily on its nine lines. It consists of 22 rapid transit, commuter rail, light metro, and mover lines found along the northwestern part of South Korea. It serves a large portion of Seoul’s metropolitan area, Incheon metropolis, and surrounding towns in Gyeonggi Province. It also stretches in some regional parts of rural areas, such as western Gangwon Province and northern Chungnam province.
2.. New York City Subway
New York isn’t only famous for Broadway performances, museums, business districts, high-end shops, and its large railway system. The New York City Subway is one of the largest subways globally, with an annual ridership of 1.72 billion.
Compared to other railway systems on this list, NYC’s subway is outdated, noisy, and dirty. Despite its negative character, the subway is one of the oldest public transit systems globally and the most widely used metro system!
The New York City Subway has become a necessity for locals and tourists as it serves 472 stations, making it one of the largest in the world. The fare is also fairly cheap and saves millions of commuters from hours of traffic.
3. Madrid Metro
As the capital of Spain, Madrid takes pride in its glorious destinations and its extensive metro system. Inaugurated in 1919, the Madrid Metro has undergone many extensions, thanks to various improvement works and reconstruction.
Madrid Metro is more than just a railway system. Still, an underground museum filled with different artistic styles from Paco de Lucia’s urban art, Tirso de Molina’s classic artworks, Alsacia’s abstract creations, and Chamartin’s cascade of lights.
Besides its scenic spaces, Madrid Metro is one of the longest rapid systems and the biggest subway system worldwide. Every year, the railway system carries 1.5 billion riders with its 396 stations and 21 lines. It also has underground stations that serve public events and cultural festivals.
4. Singapore Mass Rapid Transit
Last but not least is the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT), taking the number one spot as the best rail system in the world. Regarding transit rider satisfaction, Singapore takes the lead with its rapid transit system, which spans a large bulk of Singapore’s railway network, excluding its rural northwest and forested core.
Being one of the densely populated islands worldwide, Singapore’s MRT has an average of 3.501 million ridership daily. Since starting its operations in November 1987, the MRT has grown rapidly ever since, making it the country’s backbone of its public transport system.
Besides being the most affordable, convenient, and safest transportation system globally, MRT also boasts of its clean, efficient, and sustainable operations.
Rail systems are a popular transport option for a reason. It’s relatively cheaper, eco-friendly, flexible, and more importantly, it allows you to explore hidden and lesser-known destinations. After all, the main point of traveling is about enjoying the unfamiliar sights instead of reaching the destinations as quickly as possible.
So if you truly want to enjoy your next trip, consider riding in these world-class rail systems, and you’ll surely have the best ride of your life!
