Feature Evolution of Urban Railways (part 2) Rail Transport in The World’s Major Cities Takao Okamoto and Norihisa Tadakoshi Many of the world’s large cities grew in development, particularly with regard to American city; and Hong Kong, Seoul and conjunction with railways, and today, the following: Tokyo representing Asian cities. large cities cannot depend only on motor • The correlation between railways and vehicles for transportation. With worries urban growth over global environmental issues, public • The location of terminals for intercity London transportation systems are increasingly and intra-city transport seen as an important way to expand and • Examination of various public transit Located in southeast England near the revitalize large cities, while consuming systems, including non-infrastructure mouth of the River Thames, London less energy and other resources. • Strategic planning of rail networks expanded during the Industrial Revolution This article looks at public transportation based on urban development trends (1760–1850) and secured its dominance systems in some major cities of the world and future models as the heart of the British Empire during and identifies similarities and differences The cities selected for this comparative the Victorian era (1837–1901). It’s in areas such as history of development, study are: London as the first city to adapt population grew from about 500,000 in railway networks, and method of rail technology to public transport; Paris, the 17th century to 4.5 million by the end operation. Our aim is to explore the future Berlin and Moscow as three major of the 19th century. The modern relationship between urban and transport European cities; New York as a North- metropolis of Greater London consists of The London Railway Network King’s Cross/St.Pancras Paddington LCY Victoria Waterloo LHR R. Thames 0 5 10 km : Former British Rail Network : London Underground : Docklands Light Railway : Greater London limits 4 Japan Railway & Transport Review 25 • October 2000 Copyright © 2000 EJRCF. All rights reserved. the central city and suburbs. This managing and operating subways, buses, conurbation is surrounded by a ‘green and trams in 1933, and the entire system Paris belt.’ Greater London covers a total area was nationalized during WWII. Control of 1578 km2 and has a population of 6.85 was transferred to the City of London Paris has a metropolitan population of 11 million. The industrial structure is shifting (Greater London Council or GLC) in 1970 million while 2.17 million people live steadily from a traditional reliance on and then back to the national government within the central city area of 105 km2. manufacturing and trade, toward sectors in 1984, when the bus component was Paris is a truly cosmopolitan city, hosting such as finance and tourism. subsequently privatized. The present some 20 million tourists and business London was the world’s first city to build zone-based fare structure was introduced travellers every year, half of whom are a public transport system, starting with in 1981. international visitors. The city layout, with intercity rail links in the mid-19th century, Total passenger-km have been rising many roads radiating out from a central but railway construction within the built- gradually since the introduction of the hub, was designed by Baron Haussmann up city was banned in 1859, so terminals zone-based fare system, although this is in the mid-19th century during the reign were located on the city outskirts. Many thought to be due more to chronic road of Napoleon III (1852–70). entrepreneurs had a keen interest in congestion and the resulting In France, the ratio of passenger car use to railways, and their railway construction disillusionment with cars, as well as to public transport use is a high 2:1 and mass efforts eventually led to the city being new demand accompanying transit systems are rarely profitable. This is encircled by more than ten terminals at redevelopment of the centre core area. true even in Greater Paris. To ensure the city edge. This configuration remains Recent projects include the Jubilee Line viability, Syndicat des Transports Parisiens even today although the city has spread extension (opened in 1999) and the (STP, a body under direct control of the further out past the terminals. Docklands Light Railway, designed to national government) was established to Britain’s trunk railway network was serve the redeveloped docklands. The coordinate operations, fares and subsidies nationalized in the 1940s and then government provides funds for between the various public transport privatized in 1996 in a bid to improve construction of new lines like these, and operators. STP brokers agreements on the operating efficiency and services. The for maintenance and improvement of extent to which each transport provider ownership of infrastructure has been existing lines, but funding levels vary operates on tracks owned by the national separated from railway operations, with according to the government’s budget. railway, Société Nationale des Chemins de 25 different operating companies Operating expenses are not subsidized. Fer Francais (SNCF) and the subway responsible for running the various Recent years have seen increasing operator Régie Autonome des Transports passenger lines. concern about aging subway lines and Parisiens (RATP). The network in London consists of former stations, and deteriorating services. In The Paris subway (Metro) was opened in British Rail suburban lines, and 12 subway fiscal 1998, the reliability indicator for 1900 and currently has 14 lines totalling lines (tubes), with a total length of 391 subways (the percentage of subway trains 209 km with 297 stations. The Réseau km, and also extensive bus services. The in service) was 94%, meaning that one in Express Régional (RER) composed of five ridership breakdown in 1997 was: buses every 16 trains was cancelled. This poor additional subway lines is run jointly by 53%; subways 34%; and railways 12%. showing is believed to be the result of SNCF and RATP. Paris has six intercity London’s subway—the first in the world— excessive emphasis on profits, and has terminals (including some for the high- began as a privately-operated, horse- become a focus of concern for the subway speed TGV) that connect to the Metro for drawn service in 1863, and steadily system, particularly in light of the need to travel in the city centre. expanded with more lines and fund upgrade programmes, and the The line configuration has changed in electrification. Most lines in the centre question of privatization. accordance with the growth patterns. Five were completed by the early 20th century. A new Greater London Authority (GLA) new satellite towns built on the outskirts The fact that the original facilities have was established in May 2000 around the of the city grew considerably between changed little to this day is testimony to time Ken Livingstone was elected the first 1990 and 1996 and boosted demand for the foresight of the original planners. Mayor of London. He has control over transport into the city centre. New RER The operations of London’s transport London’s transport and his policies are lines crisscrossing the city were built to system have undergone many changes. awaited with interest. serve this demand and it is said that their One entity (London Passenger Transport layout was partially modelled on Tokyo’s Board) was given responsibility for through operations between subways and Copyright © 2000 EJRCF. All rights reserved. Japan Railway & Transport Review 25 • October 2000 5 Evolution of Urban Railways (part 2) suburban railways (JRTR 23, pp. 36–41). transportation tax on companies (based The national government’s 1994 amended In addition, STP monitors investment on the number of employees) to keep both urban development plan for Greater Paris plans and determines the amount of types of fares low. STP distributes specifically limits the size of the subsidies for unprofitable lines and revenues from the transportation tax metropolitan area and places increased discount fare programmes. The national between SNCF, RATP, RER and private bus emphasis on environmental protection. and local governments split their companies according to a set ratio. The plan estimated the total population contributions 7:3. Investment in rail Although originally introduced to cover of Greater Paris at 11.8 million, including transport is generally 80% publicly funded revenue shortfalls caused by discounted 5.8 million workers, but made no with the remainder being financed by the commuter tickets, the transportation tax provision for new transport lines except private operator. now also represents a valuable source of for two previously planned lines—the Fares within Greater Paris use a zone funds for capital investment. Weekly and Météor (No. 14 subway line) opened in system while the Metro uses a flat rate fare. monthly Carte Orange cards are sold at 1998, and the EOLE (RER-E) opened in Intercity fares use a taper system. Paris, discounts of up to 50% that are valid on 1999. like other large cities in France, levies a all public transport within the city. Today, the streets of Paris remain largely The Paris Railway Network Orry-la-Ville Cergy- St. Christophe D R E Cergy- Montigny- R Pontoise Beauchàmp Roissy CDG La Seine aéroport Mitry- B R Claye E R R B RE R E R Argenteuil R E R C LRT A R E RER E (EOL St. Germain R E) A Chelles en-Laye | | Gournay | La Défense | | | | Marne-la-Vallée R Chessy (future extension)ER E Météor RER A Marne-la-Vallée Bercy Torcy LRT R Villiers-sur-Marne E R Le Plessis-Trévise Versailles C RER C St. Quentin- R E R en-Yvelines R R Robinson A ER D 0 5 10 km E R Choisy-le-Roi St. Quentin- C en-Yvelines R ER C Massy- Boissy Palaiseau ORL St-Léger : Metro ( : Météor) R E R C |||||||||| New section St.