Hehehe... leave it to El Pais to find a way to actually _complain_ about 80 new metro stations... Of course there are outages and inconveniences but there have to be significant growing pains associated with such vast and rapid expansion. I take metro to work every day, an old line 4, and even though I have a direct bus stopping in front of my empresa´s door, I still prefer metro - its significantly faster and much more reliable, especially on a morning like today´s when it rains buckets and traffic is completely unpredictible.
Posts: 197 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 02 November 2004
doesn't affect me much, I avoid the metro. I usually go by car bus or renfe. But I have a teacher who is very happy, the new lines mean I can drop her off a metro station instead of a bus stop and she get's home in about half the time
formerly timhortonsman
Posts: 386 | Location: Tres Cantos | Registered: 29 June 2006
I use the metro a lot and haven't experienced any outages or changes in service. I think people here complain too much just don't appreciate how good they have it (compare it to the held-together-by-a-shoestring US public transit systems...well there's just no comparison). Some of those new lines are going to be really, really useful. I wonder, will the transfer between metro and tren ligero be free?
I do hate the new map, though. It's way too rectilinear and the distances are too far out of whack.
Posts: 1070 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
I do hate the new map, though. It's way too rectilinear and the distances are too far out of whack.
Thank you Mariposita for commenting on the map. It's too rectangular for me too and is off whack. I prefer the old, but am open to change.
I also have no problem with the metro at all. I like it and it's much better than public transportation in the US. The DC Metro is nice, but not as extensive as Madrid's metro.
I recently saw a special about the NY Subway and how it's trying to make a comeback after years of neglect. In general, I feel that Europe's much better with public transportation than the US can ever be.
Shawn
Shawn
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1255 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
I'm confused. When is this map being rolled out? Is it definite? The Times article just says its been commissioned, and the map currently online is this one. I'm guessing that because some of those new lines aren't open yet, they can't bring the funky new map online yet, but anyone got an idea when (if) it will be official?
Like I said, it doesn't bother me, but that's what the new map will look like when all of the new stations open up. Basically, some people just don't want the change and it is based on the way that the London metro mapis laid out.
Hey, I still know my way using the metro. I guessif people complain enough, they will have two versions of the same map. Only time will tell.
Shawn
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1255 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
Thanks for the reminder, Jer. I've gone soft in my old age. All in all, the new metro map doesn't bother me. I can still get around using the metro without any problem at all.
Shawn
"Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down" - SONG OF SOLOMON, Toni Morrison
Posts: 1255 | Location: Richmond, VA but in MADRID now | Registered: 10 February 2002
I don't like it, but the biggest problem I see is the small type font. I'm guessing they won't print them on bigger paper, so it's going to have tiny writing.
I wonder, will the transfer between metro and tren ligero be free?
This is an issue that is being taken up by the neighbors in Sanchinarro, which is zone A. The other areas where the ML (metro ligero) is are zone B. Initially, the idea was that the abono mensual would be accepted on the ML but that it would have its own ticketing system and the metrobus ticket would not be valid on it either. Well, a group neighbors got all up in arms about it and started swamping all the government offices, PP, PSOE, and Metro/transport consortium with emails of complaint. Last I heard it seems that their grassroots campaign worked because several received email responses saying that the ticket readers onboard were going to be reprogrammed to also read the metrobus. Of course nobody is believing a word of it until such noticed is published in the BOE since it's easy to say one thing before elections and then renege on the deal if it hasn't been made official.
Anyway, I am anxiously awaiting the opening of the ML. The trains are very sleek and nice looking!
I'm excited about the ML, too. I have a friend who lives in Virgen del Cortijo and it will make it so much easier to get out there. What is the stop in Sanchinarro going to be called? Do you know when it is opening?
Posts: 1070 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
The ML that runs through Sanchinarro is ML1. ML2 is the one that goes through Pozuelo out to Aravaca and ML3 is the one that goes out to Boadilla del Monte. From what I understand ML2 and ML3 are in zone B and will have a different rate (the Zone B rate). Sanchinarro's ML1 is in Zone A.
ML1 cuts through Sanchinarro connecting lines 1 & 4 of the metro in Pinar de Chamartin to line 10/Metro norte in Las Tablas. There are 9 stops on ML1 including the end stops.
There is an actual stop called Virgen del Cortijo. But depending on where your friends live, they might be using the Fuente de la Mora stop which is the 2nd stop if you count Pinar de Chamartin as the first.
Rumor has it that the ML1 should be opening around May 9th.
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All in all, the new metro map doesn't bother me. I can still get around using the metro without any problem at all.
