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[stereobread]

I've been reading a lot about the proposed US high speed rail system (god I hope that actually happens) and it got me thinking about what countries I've traveled to had the best, most efficient, most enjoyable systems of public transit. I think for rail and buses most countries in Europe, as well as South Korea and Japan are up at the top but Korea's system is substantially cheaper than Japan's and most of the countries I've been to in Europe don't have high speed rail so I'd have to give it to the Koreans there. In terms of bus systems Mexico is pretty fantastic but they don't have a functioning intercity passenger rail system so they lose points there.

As for which country has the worst public transportation? I'd say Albania. Things may have changed but when I was there it was fairly difficult to get into the country overland and once in the bus system was much more confusing than that in neighboring Balkan countries. Aside from that it's a toss up between Tunisia and the US. The train from Sousse to Tunis wasn't bad but rather than a local intercity bus system most other cities were served by shared taxis instead, which is fun but seems like it could get old pretty quickly. In the US Greyhound is just depressing and Amtrak would be great if it weren't for the fact that it shares tracks with freight trains and is usually delayed while you wait for them to get out of the way. Both Greyhound and Amtrak suffer from having their stations in bad locations and a relative lack of local public transit connecting with them.

So of the place you've been what countries have the best train and bus services? The worst? And on a somewhat related note what do you think about the passing of Prop 1A in California (which would establish a high speed rail link between LA and San Francisco) and the Obama administration's recently announced plans for a national high speed rail system in the US (which would link to Vancouver and Montreal for all you Canadians who might feel left out)?

[starlagurl]

On the US rapid transit: Montreal and Vancouver? Not Toronto? What gives? Why choose Montreal over Toronto??? That's just crazy.

Anyway... best public transportation.... I thought Bangkok's sky train was pretty good.

I love the subways in Toronto, Montreal and New York...

I also love the jitneys in the Bahamas and St. Martin... no schedules or organization but it works just fine.

Worst public transportation.... I can't think of anyplace off the top of my head. Probably somewhere in the US or Canada.

[rbisset]

There is high speed rail in France, Spain and Germany. It'll come to UK eventually when they realise there is more to the country than just London.

I saw a programme on high speed rail last night and they said that a MagLev system in a vacuum tube could reach speeds of 2000mph! London to Tokyo in 3.5 hours!

[stereobread]

There is high speed rail in France, Spain and Germany. It'll come to UK eventually when they realise there is more to the country than just London.

I saw a programme on high speed rail last night and they said that a MagLev system in a vacuum tube could reach speeds of 2000mph! London to Tokyo in 3.5 hours!

Yeah, I know there's HSR in France, Spain and Germany (other European countries too). What I meant when I said that European countries didn't have high speed is that the European countries that I've personally been to didn't (except for Germany). Yeah I agree that it'll probably eventually spread to the UK.

It's sort of unrelated but I was reading last night that preliminary talks are underway to convert the Transiberian Railway to Shinkansen stock. It wouldn't be as fast as that but how cool would it be to go from Beijing to Moscow on a bullet train?

[sianeth]

I thought the Tunisian trains were good tbh!

Scandanavia and Switzerland probably have the best public transport of the places I've been, even if it is comparatively expensive. I swear everything in Switzerland runs on time aswell!

[travellingjon]

On the US rapid transit: Montreal and Vancouver? Not Toronto? What gives? Why choose Montreal over Toronto??? That's just crazy.

Don't worry just yet, dear Louise
I heard it includes Toronto as well (of course, after all it's the biggest Canadian city), it just doesn't stop there. I also read somewhere that Windsor (Ont.) and Québec (the city) could be in too.

[starlagurl]

Phew! I was worried there for a minute! Haha!

[travelfreaks]

Worst travel eperience has to be a toss up between

1) Cretan bus company- The driver srceamed at my wife to get off the bus because she had a bag of shopping in her hand but let me on!!!????? Then the conductor terrorised and elderly lady for her fair making her spill her shopping all over the floor and didnt give up shouting at her til she paid!- very srtange transportation rules that i dont think include males for some reason????

2) Tunisian local transport- driver on bus into Sousse picked up a prostitute and had her sitting on his knee whilse made indecent comments. Then, 2 taxi drivers had a major punchup fighting over our fair. One driver looked about 30-35....the other must have been at least 65!!! the younger one lost....we didnt dare say anything while we both sat in the back of the car trying not to make eye contact in the mirror!

3) Me driving on the righthandside of the road in Europe! Scared the pants of Diane.....and other road users!

Best travel- Singapore airlines....these peeps rock!

Transport culture around the world is fab! :-)

[starlagurl]

Wow! Crazy stories! You never know what you will get yourself into... even if you are taking the "safe" route of getting a driver... wow...

[papayaprincess]

Hey!

1) cabs in Egypt...for the most part they just stress me out (even though they are essential to getting around)...although the worst cab was Fes, Morocco, where our driver hit a cyclist...luckily everyone was ok, but I must admit, I was a bit shaken up!

2) getting mistaken for a prostitute in Italy...I arrived in a small town near my dad's village and was waiting for the bus and apparently a girl wearing a dress with a duffel bag naturally equates to prostitute...needless to say, I learned my lesson!

3) The train from Belgrade to Bar (in Montenegro)...the distance was only about 200 km, but it took about 12 hours, because we had to stop for hours at a time on the track waiting for other trains to get buy...good times

On the whole though, I usually quite enjoy my international transportation, barring the occasional experience of getting locked in a bus's bathroom or tarvelling as a lone women and having 5 big strong men in the compartment (although that ended up quite well, they were all really nice!)

Cheers

[durnadupa]

Took a train once from New York City to Montreal because none of my friends nor I wanted to drive. What is normally a 7 hour car ride turned into a 20 hour ordeal. Turns out it was so hot out that the train tracks began to warp and we were not able to pass them. Add that to the fact that the train had to conserve energy so they shut it down while we waited in the sun. No air conditioner. All concession stands were closed. And the toilets began to overflow.

Worst. Experience. Ever.

[starlagurl]

Hey!

2) getting mistaken for a prostitute in Italy...I arrived in a small town near my dad's village and was waiting for the bus and apparently a girl wearing a dress with a duffel bag naturally equates to prostitute...needless to say, I learned my lesson!

Cheers

OMG what kind of dress were you wearing???

[papayaprincess]

Hey!

The dress was bright red, went below the knee and had thick straps...it hardly screamed 'I like having sex for money'...I think it was more the fact that I had a huge duffel bag and I was waiting at the bus stop in a tiny random town...but by the end of our chat, the little old man got the message!

Cheers

[starlagurl]

Haha... it must have been the colour then... *note to self* Do not wear red in Italy.

[kamyp]

Best transportation system for me has to be in Switzerland..I thought that it was outstanding.

The worst has to be India - the driver's have their own rules, the highways take forever to navigate. I have to say that it does have a charm all of its own even if it is not the most efficient.


Kamy