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96-755: The Indigo Line was a proposed rapid transit service of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) that would have incorporated parts of the former Grand Junction Railroad , the Seaport District's Track 61 , a spur to Riverside station and segments of other MBTA Commuter Rail lines within the Greater Boston region of Massachusetts . As proposed, the Indigo Line was planned as hybrid rail (non- commuter rail service that operates as

192-986: A pre-pay fare control system at Indigo Line stations and have fare parity with the MBTA’s subway lines. In concept, the Indigo Line proposal is reminiscent of S-Bahn and other regional rail systems in Europe that often act as a faster counterparts to metro services which have more stops; however, Indigo services would have only provided coverage within Boston's urban periphery and lacks any form of through-running between lines. DMU services would have primarily been contained to Boston's inner core, with some services extending into several adjacent suburbs and cities such as Lynn and Newton . As proposed, several inner-city Commuter Rail stations would have been converted exclusively for Indigo Line service. Conventional commuter rail would continue to serve outer stations and would run express through

288-591: A bill that would mandate the conversion of the MBTA's Fairmount Line to fully electrified operations by 2029 in order to effectively integrate the line with the MBTA’s rapid transit network under the Indigo Line banner. The 2023 legislation diverges from a previous MBTA proposal from 2022 that suggested the procurement of battery multiple units for the Fairmount Line as opposed to full electrification. The legislation

384-425: A body of water), which are potential congestion sites but also offer an opportunity for transfers between lines. Ring lines provide good coverage, connect between the radial lines and serve tangential trips that would otherwise need to cross the typically congested core of the network. A rough grid pattern can offer a wide variety of routes while still maintaining reasonable speed and frequency of service. A study of

480-454: A code for its stations. Unlike that of Singapore's MRT, it is mostly numbers. Based on the line number, for example Sinyongsan station, is coded as station 429. Being on Line 4, the first number of the station code is 4. The last two numbers are the station number on that line. Interchange stations can have multiple codes. Like City Hall station in Seoul which is served by Line 1 and Line 2. It has

576-651: A code of 132 and 201 respectively. The Line 2 is a circle line and the first stop is City Hall, therefore, City Hall has the station code of 201. For lines without a number like Bundang line it will have an alphanumeric code. Lines without a number that are operated by KORAIL will start with the letter 'K'. With widespread use of the Internet and cell phones globally, transit operators now use these technologies to present information to their users. In addition to online maps and timetables, some transit operators now offer real-time information which allows passengers to know when

672-614: A combination of regional rail and light rail ) and would have predominately shared existing infrastructure with the MBTA Commuter Rail. The Indigo Line was formally endorsed in 2014 during the Deval Patrick administration. The service was included within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT's) 2014-2018 Capital Investment Plan which consolidated recommendations put forth by

768-511: A commuter rail station at Everett Street with DMU stops added later at the other locations. The term "Indigo Line" dates back to The Fairmount/Indigo Corridor Collaborative (FCC) community campaign in 2004 which advocated for expanded service on the Fairmount Line; however, official development of the proposal would be established with the creation of the Fairmount Indigo Planning Initiative in 2012. This study

864-583: A conventional track is often provided in case of flat tires and for switching . There are also some rubber-tired systems that use a central guide rail , such as the Sapporo Municipal Subway and the NeoVal system in Rennes , France. Advocates of this system note that it is much quieter than conventional steel-wheeled trains, and allows for greater inclines given the increased traction of

960-405: A dedicated right-of-way are typically used only outside dense areas, since they create a physical barrier in the urban fabric that hinders the flow of people and vehicles across their path and have a larger physical footprint. This method of construction is the cheapest as long as land values are low. It is often used for new systems in areas that are planned to fill up with buildings after the line

1056-465: A dedicated right-of-way; however, the MBTA had initially assumed that non-compliant railcars could operate alongside conventional commuter trains and not require modifications to existing commuter rail infrastructure. By 2014, the MBTA determined that non-compliant DMUs would not be feasible for Indigo service due to logistical issues and FRA safety standards; DMUs would have to be compliant with FRA Tier 1 crashworthiness standards in order to operate on

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1152-462: A lack of demand for the routes it would serve. Opposition to the Indigo Line proposal cited the low ridership of the Fairmount Line, and questioned the operational logistics of the proposed routes (mainly about how the Track 61 line would have bypassed South Station ). In 2016, the MBTA stated it was no longer interested in pursuing inner-core service increases on existing Commuter Rail lines. Following

1248-418: A large number of factors, including geographical barriers, existing or expected travel patterns, construction costs, politics, and historical constraints. A transit system is expected to serve an area of land with a set of lines , which consist of shapes summarized as "I", "L", "U", "S", and "O" shapes or loops. Geographical barriers may cause chokepoints where transit lines must converge (for example, to cross

1344-652: A large part of the network, for example, in outer suburbs, runs at ground level. In most of Britain , a subway is a pedestrian underpass . The terms Underground and Tube are used for the London Underground . The North East England Tyne and Wear Metro , mostly overground, is known as the Metro . In Scotland , the Glasgow Subway underground rapid transit system is known as the Subway . In Ireland ,

1440-495: A lawsuit by the CLF for inadequate completion of Big Dig mitigation measures. The existing Uphams Corner and Morton Street stations were rebuilt, and four new stations were constructed at Four Corners/Geneva , Talbot Avenue , Blue Hill Avenue , and Newmarket in the 2010s; however, no plans were included to increase service on the line. While plans for the station improvement projects moved forward, community advocates would call for

1536-452: A line is obtained by multiplying the car capacity, the train length, and the service frequency . Heavy rapid transit trains might have six to twelve cars, while lighter systems may use four or fewer. Cars have a capacity of 100 to 150 passengers, varying with the seated to standing ratio  – more standing gives higher capacity. The minimum time interval between trains is shorter for rapid transit than for mainline railways owing to

1632-615: A metro. In Spain, such systems are present in Madrid , Barcelona , Bilbao and Valencia . In Portugal, Lisbon has a metro. The Italian cities of Catania , Genoa , Milan , Naples , Rome and Turin also have metro lines. In Germany and Austria they rapid transit is known as U-Bahn , which are often supported by S-Bahn systems. In Germany, U-Bahn systems exist in Berlin , Hamburg , Munich and Nuremberg , while in Austria such

1728-705: A rapid transit setting. Four Corners Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado , southeastern corner of Utah , northeastern corner of Arizona , and northwestern corner of New Mexico . Most of the Four Corners region belongs to semi-autonomous Native American nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation , followed by Hopi , Ute , and Zuni tribal reserves and nations. The Four Corners region

1824-565: A specialized transit police may be established. These security measures are normally integrated with measures to protect revenue by checking that passengers are not travelling without paying. Some subway systems, such as the Beijing Subway , which is ranked by Worldwide Rapid Transit Data as the "World's Safest Rapid Transit Network" in 2015, incorporates airport-style security checkpoints at every station. Rapid transit systems have been subject to terrorism with many casualties, such as

1920-608: A system exists in Vienna . In addition, the small, car-free town of Serfaus in the Austrian state of Tyrol also features a short U-Bahn line. There are no U-Bahn systems in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, but the city of Lausanne has its own, small metro system. In Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, a project for a U-Bahn network was stopped by a referendum in the 1970s and instead its S-Bahn system

2016-801: Is a shortened reference to a metropolitan area . Rapid transit systems such as the Washington Metrorail , Los Angeles Metro Rail , the Miami Metrorail , and the Montreal Metro are generally called the Metro . In Philadelphia , the term "El" is used for the Market–Frankford Line which runs mostly on an elevated track, while the term "subway" applies to the Broad Street Line which is almost entirely underground. Chicago 's commuter rail system that serves

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2112-608: Is a single corporate image for the entire transit authority, but the rapid transit uses its own logo that fits into the profile. A transit map is a topological map or schematic diagram used to show the routes and stations in a public transport system. The main components are color-coded lines to indicate each line or service, with named icons to indicate stations. Maps may show only rapid transit or also include other modes of public transport. Transit maps can be found in transit vehicles, on platforms , elsewhere in stations, and in printed timetables . Maps help users understand

2208-649: Is administered by the Navajo Nation Department of Parks and Recreation. Other tribal nations within the Four Corners region include the Hopi and other Ute . The Four Corners is home to the capital of the Navajo tribal government at Window Rock , Arizona. The Ute Mountain Ute tribal headquarters are located at Towaoc , Colorado. The US federal government also has a large presence in the area, particularly

2304-874: Is available via the Durango-La Plata County Airport in Durango, Colorado , Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington, New Mexico , and Cortez Municipal Airport in Cortez, Colorado . Interstate 40 passes along the southern edge of the Four Corners region. The primary U.S. Highways that directly serve the Four Corners include U.S. Route 64 , U.S. Route 160 (which serves the Four Corners Monument itself), U.S. Route 163 , U.S. Route 191 , U.S. Route 491 (previously U.S. Route 666 ), and U.S. Route 550 . The main line of

2400-506: Is built. Most rapid transit trains are electric multiple units with lengths from three to over ten cars. Crew sizes have decreased throughout history, with some modern systems now running completely unstaffed trains. Other trains continue to have drivers, even if their only role in normal operation is to open and close the doors of the trains at stations. Power is commonly delivered by a third rail or by overhead wires . The whole London Underground network uses fourth rail and others use

2496-416: Is necessary, rolling stock with a smaller loading gauge from one sub network may be transported along other lines that use larger trains. On some networks such operations are part of normal services. Most rapid transit systems use conventional standard gauge railway track . Since tracks in subway tunnels are not exposed to rain , snow , or other forms of precipitation , they are often fixed directly to

2592-545: Is part of a larger region known as the Colorado Plateau and is mostly rural, rugged, and arid. The Four Corners area is named after the quadripoint at the intersection of approximately 37° north latitude with 109° 03′ west longitude, where the boundaries of the four states meet, and is marked by the Four Corners Monument . It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. In addition to

2688-440: Is part of the high Colorado Plateau . This makes it a center for weather systems , which stabilize on the plateau then proceed eastward through Colorado and into the central states . This weather system creates snow- and rainfall over the central United States. Federally protected areas in the Four Corners area include Canyon de Chelly National Monument , Hovenweep National Monument , Mesa Verde National Park , and Canyons of

2784-555: Is referred to simply as "the subway", despite 40% of the system running above ground. The term "L" or "El" is not used for elevated lines in general as the lines in the system are already designated with letters and numbers. The "L" train or L (New York City Subway service) refers specifically to the 14th Street–Canarsie Local line, and not other elevated trains. Similarly, the Toronto Subway is referred to as "the subway", with some of its system also running above ground. These are

2880-412: Is serviced by at least one specific route with trains stopping at all or some of the line's stations. Most systems operate several routes, and distinguish them by colors, names, numbering, or a combination thereof. Some lines may share track with each other for a portion of their route or operate solely on their own right-of-way. Often a line running through the city center forks into two or more branches in

2976-748: Is the most commonly used term for underground rapid transit systems used by non-native English speakers. Rapid transit systems may be named after the medium by which passengers travel in busy central business districts ; the use of tunnels inspires names such as subway , underground , Untergrundbahn ( U-Bahn ) in German, or the Tunnelbana (T-bana) in Swedish. The use of viaducts inspires names such as elevated ( L or el ), skytrain , overhead , overground or Hochbahn in German. One of these terms may apply to an entire system, even if

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3072-568: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , now operated by the BNSF Railway , passes along the southern edge of Four Corners. The area is home to remnants of through railroads that are now heritage railways . These include the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad . The Black Mesa and Lake Powell Railroad , which connects a power plant with

3168-787: The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) for the Big Dig was improved commuter rail service on the Fairmount Line; following advocacy for the Fairmount Corridor Coalition (later the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition) in 1999-2000, the MBTA pledged half of the money necessary to build additional stations along the Fairmount Line in 2002. The remaining necessary funds were put into the MassDOT budget in 2005-06 following

3264-1036: The Department of the Interior with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Agriculture with the Forest Service . The Four Corners region is mostly rural. The economic hub, largest city, and only metropolitan area in the region is Farmington, New Mexico . The populated settlement closest to the center of Four Corners is Teec Nos Pos , Arizona. Other cities in the region include Cortez and Durango in Colorado; Monticello and Blanding in Utah; Kayenta and Chinle in Arizona; and Shiprock , Aztec , and Bloomfield in New Mexico. Air service

3360-627: The Dublin Area Rapid Transit is despite the name considered a commuter rail due to usage of mainline railways. In France, large cities, such as Paris , Marseille and Lyon , feature a Métro . Also the smaller cities of Lille Rennes have a light metro. Furthermore, Brussels in Belgium, and Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands have metro systems in place. Several Southern European contries also have

3456-503: The Fairmount Line Improvement Project , accused the MBTA of disproportionally depriving the Fairmount Line of service improvements. The accusation came in response to a joint Department of Justice and FTA investigation of MBTA Commuter Rail operator Keolis into whether train cancellations on the Fairmount Line were in violation of Title VI in 2016. The Fairmount Line Improvement Project adopted by

3552-702: The Green Line Extension , Red Line Braintree Extension and the Haymarket North Extension ). In the case of the Green Line D Branch , a commuter line (the Highland Branch ) was fully converted into a streetcar rapid transit line . The Indigo Line proposal was intended to make the characteristics of existing commuter lines more like rapid transit than commuter rail , with increased frequency and number of stops through

3648-752: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad K-series cars from 1958, the New York City Subway R38 and R42 cars from the late-1960s, and the Nagoya Municipal Subway 3000 series , Osaka Municipal Subway 10 series and MTR M-Train EMUs from the 1970s, were generally only made possible largely due to the relatively generous loading gauges of these systems and also adequate open-air sections to dissipate hot air from these air conditioning units. Especially in some rapid transit systems such as

3744-429: The London Underground . In 1868, New York opened the elevated West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway , initially a cable-hauled line using stationary steam engines . As of 2021 , China has the largest number of rapid transit systems in the world  – 40 in number, running on over 4,500 km (2,800 mi) of track – and was responsible for most of the world's rapid-transit expansion in

3840-740: The Metropolitan Railway opened publicly in London in 1863. High capacity monorails with larger and longer trains can be classified as rapid transit systems. Such monorail systems recently started operating in Chongqing and São Paulo . Light metro is a subclass of rapid transit that has the speed and grade separation of a "full metro" but is designed for smaller passenger numbers. It often has smaller loading gauges, lighter train cars and smaller consists of typically two to four cars. Light metros are typically used as feeder lines into

3936-649: The Mexican–American War in 1848. In 1863 Congress created the Arizona Territory from the western part of New Mexico Territory . The boundary was legally defined as a line running due south from the southwest corner of Colorado Territory , which had been created in 1861. This was an unusual act of Congress, which almost always defined the boundaries of new territories as lines of latitude or longitude, or following rivers, but seldom as extensions of other boundaries. By defining one boundary as starting at

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4032-578: The Montreal Metro (opened 1966) and Sapporo Municipal Subway (opened 1971), their entirely enclosed nature due to their use of rubber-tyred technology to cope with heavy snowfall experienced by both cities in winter precludes any air-conditioning retrofits of rolling stock due to the risk of heating the tunnels to temperatures that would be too hot for passengers and for train operations. In many cities, metro networks consist of lines operating different sizes and types of vehicles. Although these sub-networks may not often be connected by track, in cases when it

4128-589: The Prague Metro . The London Underground and Paris Métro are densely built systems with a matrix of crisscrossing lines throughout the cities. The Chicago 'L' has most of its lines converging on The Loop , the main business, financial, and cultural area. Some systems have a circular line around the city center connecting to radially arranged outward lines, such as the Moscow Metro 's Koltsevaya Line and Beijing Subway 's Line 10 . The capacity of

4224-685: The Singapore MRT , Changi Airport MRT station has the alphanumeric code CG2, indicating its position as the 2nd station on the Changi Airport branch of the East West Line. Interchange stations have at least two codes, for example, Raffles Place MRT station has two codes, NS26 and EW14, the 26th station on the North South Line and the 14th station on the East West Line. The Seoul Metro is another example that utilizes

4320-450: The deep tube lines . Historically, rapid transit trains used ceiling fans and openable windows to provide fresh air and piston-effect wind cooling to riders. From the 1950s to the 1990s (and in most of Europe until the 2000s), many rapid transit trains from that era were also fitted with forced-air ventilation systems in carriage ceiling units for passenger comfort. Early rapid transit rolling stock fitted with air conditioning , such as

4416-409: The linear motor for propulsion. Some urban rail lines are built to a loading gauge as large as that of main-line railways ; others are built to a smaller one and have tunnels that restrict the size and sometimes the shape of the train compartments. One example is most of the London Underground , which has acquired the informal term "tube train" due to the cylindrical shape of the trains used on

4512-432: The 15 world largest subway systems suggested a universal shape composed of a dense core with branches radiating from it. Rapid transit operators have often built up strong brands , often focused on easy recognition – to allow quick identification even in the vast array of signage found in large cities – combined with the desire to communicate speed, safety, and authority. In many cities, there

4608-488: The 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack and the 2005 " 7/7 " terrorist bombings on the London Underground. Some rapid transport trains have extra features such as wall sockets, cellular reception, typically using a leaky feeder in tunnels and DAS antennas in stations, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. The first metro system in the world to enable full mobile phone reception in underground stations and tunnels

4704-621: The 2010s. The world's longest single-operator rapid transit system by route length is the Shanghai Metro . The world's largest single rapid transit service provider by number of stations (472 stations in total) is the New York City Subway . The busiest rapid transit systems in the world by annual ridership are the Shanghai Metro, Tokyo subway system , Seoul Metro and the Moscow Metro . The term Metro

4800-532: The 21st century, most new expansions and systems are located in Asia, with China becoming the world's leader in metro expansion, operating some of the largest and busiest systems while possessing almost 60 cities that are operating, constructing or planning a rapid transit system . Rapid transit is used for local transport in cities , agglomerations , and metropolitan areas to transport large numbers of people often short distances at high frequency . The extent of

4896-734: The Ancients National Monument . Mountain Ranges in the Four Corners include Sleeping Ute Mountains , Abajo Mountains , and the Chuska Mountains . Six governments have jurisdictional boundaries at the Four Corners Monument: the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, as well as the tribal governments of the Navajo Nation and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe . The Four Corners Monument itself

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4992-414: The Boston Redevelopment Authority (now the Boston Planning and Development Agency ) and several other proposals by community advocates. The MBTA planned to procure diesel multiple units (DMUs) for Indigo Line service with full-build completion projected for 2024. Despite initial planning efforts, the project faced financial, political, and logistical hurdles. The Baker administration blocked funding for

5088-434: The Indigo Line has not been formally proposed as a MBTA project and is not in active development. Rapid transit Modern services on rapid transit systems are provided on designated lines between stations typically using electric multiple units on railway tracks . Some systems use guided rubber tires , magnetic levitation ( maglev ), or monorail . The stations typically have high platforms, without steps inside

5184-417: The Indigo Line in 2015, with the project being officially canceled by the MBTA shortly after. In the years following the project's cancelation, lawmakers and local advocates have called for the revival and reassessment of the Indigo Line plan in relation to improvements to the MBTA Commuter Rail's Fairmount Line . Several minor projects based on preliminary Indigo Line recommendations have been pursued; however,

5280-513: The Indigo Line network was projected for completion by 2024 at a total capital cost of $ 252 million. The Indigo Line would have functionally operated as a part of the MBTA's rapid transit network alongside the Red , Blue , Green , Silver , and Ashmont-Mattapan lines; however, DMU operations would be subjected to FRA operational requirements, not FTA , due to shared operations with conventional commuter trains. DMUs would operate with 15 to 30 minute bidirectional headways and would have implemented

5376-452: The Indigo Line project as originally proposed has been abandoned. Conversion of underutilized rail infrastructure within the Greater Boston area into regional rail or semi-metro services has been discussed for several decades, mostly in relation to the Fairmount Line . The MBTA has traditionally extended rapid transit lines adjacent to existing suburban railroad rights-of-way to provide increased frequencies within Greater Boston (as with

5472-448: The Indigo Line proposal. The MBTA further deprioritized investment for the Indigo Line when the Charlie Baker administration started in January 2015. Funding for the Indigo Line project was blocked by the Baker administration by late 2015, and all references to the project were omitted from MassDOT's 2015 Capital Investment Plan. The abandonment of the project was attributed to high costs of acquiring specialized rolling stock along with

5568-474: The MBTA for the Indigo Line service. Development on the Indigo Line proposal immediately stalled following its inclusion as a capital project within MassDOT's five-year plan. Other projects, such as the Green Line Extension and South Coast Rail , received planning priority during the mid-2010s. The MBTA postponed DMU procurement multiple times due to increasing costs and the lack of available manufacturers. Fiscal issues, such as budget deficits, further postponed

5664-429: The MBTA is based on preliminary Indigo Line plans; however, in its initial proposal the MBTA did not plan to increase service frequency to match rapid transit lines, nor to install pre-pay fare systems. The infill stations proposed by the initiative have been built; however, the line still uses conventional commuter rail equipment. The Indigo Line terminology was revived in 2023 within both Senate and House versions of

5760-428: The beginning of rapid transit. Initial experiences with steam engines, despite ventilation, were unpleasant. Experiments with pneumatic railways failed in their extended adoption by cities. In 1890, the City & South London Railway was the first electric-traction rapid transit railway, which was also fully underground. Prior to opening, the line was to be called the "City and South London Subway", thus introducing

5856-567: The cancelation of the Indigo Line, constituencies served by the Fairmount Line within Dorchester , Mattapan , and Hyde Park condemned the decision to cancel service improvements. The Fairmount corridor currently serves mostly low-income and working-class communities that are reliant on access to public transportation, and several of the communities are defined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs as Environmental Justice Communities. The Conservation Law Foundation , which had previously negotiated conditions for

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5952-535: The conversion of the Fairmount Line to rapid transit. Early plans to establish rapid DMU service within Boston stems from early Urban Ring planning within the Allston Multimodal Station Study (what would later become the West Station proposal) in 2007. The study analyzed both commuter rail and DMU local service along the Framingham/Worcester Line corridor, with potential stops at Faneuil, Market Street, Everett Street, Cambridge Street, West (Ashford Street), and Commonwealth Avenue . The final recommendation called for

6048-402: The corner of another, Congress ensured the eventual creation of four states meeting at a point, regardless of the inevitable errors of boundary surveying. The area was first surveyed by the U.S. Government in 1868 as part of an effort to make Colorado Territory into a state, the first of the Four Corners states formed. While the US Congress in 1863 intended the corners of Colorado to be placed at

6144-412: The correct location of the Four Corners marker, some of which remain to this day. The first Navajo tribal government was established in 1923 to regulate an increasing number of oil exploration activities on Navajo land. The Four Corners Monument is located at 36°59′56.3″N 109°02′42.6″W  /  36.998972°N 109.045167°W  / 36.998972; -109.045167 . The Four Corners

6240-414: The display of the transit network. Often this has the effect of compressing the distance between stations in the outer area of the system, and expanding distances between those close to the center. Some systems assign unique alphanumeric codes to each of their stations to help commuters identify them, which briefly encodes information about the line it is on, and its position on the line. For example, on

6336-434: The entire metropolitan area is called Metra (short for Met ropolitan Ra il), while its rapid transit system that serves the city is called the "L" . Boston's subway system is known locally as "The T". In Atlanta , the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority goes by the acronym "MARTA." In the San Francisco Bay Area , residents refer to Bay Area Rapid Transit by its acronym "BART". The New York City Subway

6432-421: The existing MBTA Commuter Rail network. Additionally, DMUs would need to be compatible with high-floor boarding at stations which further increased procurement cost projections and would require the reconstruction of several stations. The proposed 2014 state budget included $ 240 million to purchase DMU railcars; the state issued a request for proposals to purchase 30 trainsets with deliveries starting in 2018. At

6528-402: The floor rather than resting on ballast , such as normal railway tracks. An alternate technology, using rubber tires on narrow concrete or steel roll ways , was pioneered on certain lines of the Paris Métro and Mexico City Metro , and the first completely new system to use it was in Montreal , Canada. On most of these networks, additional horizontal wheels are required for guidance, and

6624-402: The intent to upgrade several other lines beyond the Fairmount Line. The "Indigo" terminology for the service was intended to denote it within Boston's rapid transit network, which utilizes a color-labeled nomenclature, since it would be operationally separate from the purple-denoted MBTA Commuter Rail network. In 2014, the Indigo Line was formally endorsed by Governor Deval Patrick . The project

6720-439: The interconnections between different parts of the system; for example, they show the interchange stations where passengers can transfer between lines. Unlike conventional maps, transit maps are usually not geographically accurate, but emphasize the topological connections among the different stations. The graphic presentation may use straight lines and fixed angles, and often a fixed minimum distance between stations, to simplify

6816-402: The intersections of lines of specific latitude and longitude, due to a "standard" survey error of the time, the originally surveyed location of the "Four Corners" point, along with the corresponding survey marker, was unintentionally placed by its initial surveyor 1,821 feet (555 m) east of the intended location. In 1925, some 57 years after Congress had first attempted to specify the spot,

6912-602: The lines of the Lyon Metro includes a section of rack (cog) railway , while the Carmelit , in Haifa, is an underground funicular . For elevated lines, another alternative is the monorail , which can be built either as straddle-beam monorails or as a suspended monorail . While monorails have never gained wide acceptance outside Japan, there are some such as Chongqing Rail Transit 's monorail lines which are widely used in

7008-557: The main rapid transit system. For instance, the Wenhu Line of the Taipei Metro serves many relatively sparse neighbourhoods and feeds into and complements the high capacity metro lines. Some systems have been built from scratch, others are reclaimed from former commuter rail or suburban tramway systems that have been upgraded, and often supplemented with an underground or elevated downtown section. Ground-level alignments with

7104-407: The monument, commonly visited areas within Four Corners include Monument Valley , Mesa Verde National Park , Chaco Canyon , Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Canyon de Chelly National Monument . The most populous city in the Four Corners region is Farmington, New Mexico , followed by Durango, Colorado . The United States acquired the four corners region from Mexico after the end of

7200-418: The network map "readable" by illiterate people, this system has since become an "icon" of the system. Compared to other modes of transport, rapid transit has a good safety record, with few accidents. Rail transport is subject to strict safety regulations , with requirements for procedure and maintenance to minimize risk. Head-on collisions are rare due to use of double track, and low operating speeds reduce

7296-654: The new DMU lines. The MBTA Vision for 2024 map proposed six possible lines to be upgraded for Indigo Line DMU service: While the Indigo Line had always been planned as a DMU service, specifications would change throughout service development. Initial BRA proposals called for the use of FRA non-compliant rolling stock in order to reduce procurement and operational costs. Non-compliant DMUs are lighter than FRA compliant vehicles and often have low-floor boarding ; however, they are not permitted to operate in mixed traffic with conventional rail equipment. Most hybrid rail lines operate temporally on trackage shared with freight or utilize

7392-402: The next vehicle will arrive, and expected travel times. The standardized GTFS data format for transit information allows many third-party software developers to produce web and smartphone app programs which give passengers customized updates regarding specific transit lines and stations of interest. Mexico City Metro uses a unique pictogram for each station. Originally intended to help make

7488-958: The occurrence and severity of rear-end collisions and derailments . Fire is more of a danger underground, such as the King's Cross fire in London in November 1987, which killed 31 people. Systems are generally built to allow evacuation of trains at many places throughout the system. High platforms , usually over 1 meter / 3 feet, are a safety risk, as people falling onto the tracks have trouble climbing back. Platform screen doors are used on some systems to eliminate this danger. Rapid transit facilities are public spaces and may suffer from security problems: petty crimes , such as pickpocketing and baggage theft, and more serious violent crimes , as well as sexual assaults on tightly packed trains and platforms. Security measures include video surveillance , security guards , and conductors . In some countries

7584-603: The only two North American systems that are primarily called "subways". In most of Southeast Asia and in Taiwan , rapid transit systems are primarily known by the acronym MRT . The meaning varies from one country to another. In Indonesia , the acronym stands for Moda Raya Terpadu or Integrated Mass [Transit] Mode in English. In the Philippines , it stands for Metro Rail Transit . Two underground lines use

7680-587: The outset. Budapest , Chicago , Glasgow , Boston and New York City all converted or purpose-designed and built electric rail services. Advancements in technology have allowed new automated services. Hybrid solutions have also evolved, such as tram-train and premetro , which incorporate some of the features of rapid transit systems. In response to cost, engineering considerations and topological challenges some cities have opted to construct tram systems, particularly those in Australia, where density in cities

7776-569: The problems surrounding the originally misplaced marker were brought up before the US Supreme Court. In order to amicably remedy this original surveying error, the US Supreme Court then redefined the point of the Four Corners, officially moving the Four Corners point roughly 1,800 feet (550 m) east, to where the original survey had first held it to be all along, and where it remains to this day, duly marked. This initial survey error has resulted in some longstanding misunderstandings about

7872-908: The rapid transit system varies greatly between cities, with several transport strategies. Some systems may extend only to the limits of the inner city, or to its inner ring of suburbs with trains making frequent station stops. The outer suburbs may then be reached by a separate commuter rail network where more widely spaced stations allow higher speeds. In some cases the differences between urban rapid transit and suburban systems are not clear. Rapid transit systems may be supplemented by other systems such as trolleybuses , regular buses , trams , or commuter rail. This combination of transit modes serves to offset certain limitations of rapid transit such as limited stops and long walking distances between outside access points. Bus or tram feeder systems transport people to rapid transit stops. Each rapid transit system consists of one or more lines , or circuits. Each line

7968-542: The rubber tires. However, they have higher maintenance costs and are less energy efficient. They also lose traction when weather conditions are wet or icy, preventing above-ground use of the Montréal Metro and limiting it on the Sapporo Municipal Subway, but not rubber-tired systems in other cities. Some cities with steep hills incorporate mountain railway technologies in their metros. One of

8064-663: The suburbs, allowing a higher service frequency in the center. This arrangement is used by many systems, such as the Copenhagen Metro , the Milan Metro , the Oslo Metro , the Istanbul Metro and the New York City Subway . Alternatively, there may be a single central terminal (often shared with the central railway station), or multiple interchange stations between lines in the city center, for instance in

8160-714: The term subway . In Thailand , it stands for Metropolitan Rapid Transit , previously using the Mass Rapid Transit name. Outside of Southeast Asia, Kaohsiung and Taoyuan, Taiwan , have their own MRT systems which stands for Mass Rapid Transit , as with Singapore and Malaysia . In general rapid transit is a synonym for "metro" type transit, though sometimes rapid transit is defined to include "metro", commuter trains and grade separated light rail . Also high-capacity bus-based transit systems can have features similar to "metro" systems. The opening of London's steam-hauled Metropolitan Railway in 1863 marked

8256-414: The term Subway into railway terminology. Both railways, alongside others, were eventually merged into London Underground . The 1893 Liverpool Overhead Railway was designed to use electric traction from the outset. The technology quickly spread to other cities in Europe , the United States, Argentina, and Canada, with some railways being converted from steam and others being designed to be electric from

8352-691: The time, only one manufacturer offered FRA compliant DMUs in North America – the Nippon Sharyo DMU , manufactured by Nippon Sharyo , would be the only respondent to the MBTA's proposal request. The lack of additional respondents was identified as a due diligence issue, as it negated the MBTA's ability to negotiate on price and delivery. Despite these concerns, an order of Nippon Sharyo DMUs for Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit in 2014 included an option for 18 cars to be provided to

8448-511: The trains, requiring custom-made trains in order to minimize gaps between train and platform. They are typically integrated with other public transport and often operated by the same public transport authorities . Some rapid transit systems have at-grade intersections between a rapid transit line and a road or between two rapid transit lines. The world's first rapid transit system was the partially underground Metropolitan Railway which opened in 1863 using steam locomotives , and now forms part of

8544-601: The use of communications-based train control : the minimum headway can reach 90 seconds, but many systems typically use 120 seconds to allow for recovery from delays. Typical capacity lines allow 1,200 people per train, giving 36,000 passengers per hour per direction . However, much higher capacities are attained in East Asia with ranges of 75,000 to 85,000 people per hour achieved by MTR Corporation 's urban lines in Hong Kong. Rapid transit topologies are determined by

8640-450: The use of DMUs (which operate as self-propelled railcars without the need for an auxiliary electrification system ) without incurring the costs associated with extending subway or light rail lines. Prior to the formal endorsement of the Indigo Line, several planning initiatives during the 2000s would serve as the basis for the DMU proposal. Part of the environmental mitigation negotiated by

8736-559: Was Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which launched its first underground mobile phone network using AMPS in 1989. Many metro systems, such as the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and the Berlin U-Bahn, provide mobile data connections in their tunnels for various network operators. The technology used for public, mass rapid transit has undergone significant changes in the years since

8832-899: Was developed further. Other Central European countries also have metro lines, for example in the cities of Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czech Republic) and Warsaw (Poland). In Eastern Europe , metro systems are in operation in Minsk (Belarus), Kyiv (Ukraine), Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Moscow (Russia). In Southeastern European countries, there are metro systems in Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece), Belgrade (Serbia), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Istanbul (Turkey). In Northern Europe , rapid transit systems exist in Copenhagen (Denmark), Oslo (Norway), Stockholm (Sweden) and Helsinki (Finland). Various terms are used for rapid transit systems around North America . The term metro

8928-559: Was facilitated by the Boston Redevelopment Authority which recommended transforming the Fairmount Line into a hybrid rail line . Hybrid rail, which emerged during the early 2000s with systems such as New Jersey Transit's River Line , was intended to be a low cost alternative to implementing high-frequency services on existing right-of-ways through the use of FRA non-compliant DMUs. The Indigo Line concept would be further consolidated with other DMU proposals with

9024-502: Was included as a capital project within MassDOT's annual five-year capital plan; however, no capital funding was allocated. The proposal was further outlined within the "MBTA Vision for 2024" proposal that same year. Within the Vision for 2024 plan, the MBTA reciprocated the recommendation to operate Indigo Line services as hybrid rail, with Fairmount Line DMU service being fully operational that year with leased equipment. The full buildout of

9120-512: Was included in a Joint Committee on Transportation hearing on May 8, 2023, which has since been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee . On March 16, 2024, MBTA Commuter Rail operator Keolis solicited a proposal that outlined the implementation of BEMU services on the Fairmount Line by FY 2027 as leverage for contract renewal; however, the MBTA has not reciprocated this motion as a formal project. Despite renewed legislative support,

9216-702: Was low and suburbs tended to spread out . Since the 1970s, the viability of underground train systems in Australian cities, particularly Sydney and Melbourne , has been reconsidered and proposed as a solution to over-capacity. Melbourne had tunnels and stations developed in the 1970s and opened in 1980. The first line of the Sydney Metro was opened in 2019. Since the 1960s, many new systems have been introduced in Europe , Asia and Latin America . In

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