The Tube

  When I'm traveling I'm a frequent user of public transportation, and the Tube in London, England is probably the best mass transit system I have ever been on.  Take heed America, in this case, Britain does it better, and does it with a comprehensive transit network, and frequent convienient local stops that are designed to move massive amounts of people quickly and efficiently, and it works.   

Fast, clean, safe, efficient, affordable, and will take you close to wherever you wish to go in merry old London.  The airport, it goes there, Hyde Park, no problem, Waterloo Train Station, yep, a connection to the Eurostar, yes there too, Soho and the theater district, yes, out for Chinese food, yes, yes, and yes.  It just works so well the locals all take it for granted, while the Americans traveling abroad are simply amazed at it's simplicity and utter efficiency.  Why can't we do this?  We put men on the moon, but our public transportation system in America sure doesn't reflect that groundbreaking technology.  Wonder why?

Wherever your going in London, if you miss your train or connection to another line, relax, the next train will be along in a couple of minutes.  The London Transit System utilizes a large amount of trains on all their routes, so wait time is minimal.  Electronic reader boards keep you informed of arrival times for your next train, and its never a long wait.  I couldn't believe how well it all worked. 

While strolling through the underside of London to reach your transport, musicians dot the path.  Not the down and out accordian players familiar to the neighborhood corner, but some local musicians putting down some pretty good licks.  I was told that musicians in the Tube have to audition for their permits to play underneath London, and I found I was really impressed with the quality of the music performed in the Tube. 

Transit passes are easy and can be purchased at automated vendors, or from the transit folk.  Passes are available for multi days, and can include the bus system and river transit.  In a country where Pound Sterling dwarfs the USD, (around a 2 to 1 exchange rate), and you find yourself hemorrhaging cash no matter how frugal you are during your stay, the Tube is one of Britain's real bargains. 

On the web: tfl.gov.uk

Telephone:  020 7222 1234