The differences between Metro and Tube...

Ok, so here's a bit of a rundown on the differences between Metro, or Metlink, back in Melbourne, and the Tube here. This post could equally be titled "Tube is better than metro because..."

Frequency
We've never had to wait more than 8 minutes for a train. Even if they've been too crowded to get on, and we've waited for te next one, it's only usually been two to three minutes. Compare this to Metro, where on average, most lines had a train every 20 minutes or so. I honestly couldn't tell you what sort of on-time average they have, because, at 3-5 minutes, it really doesn't matter that much. Although if you wanted a bus connection... it may.

Availability
Tube stations seem to be everywhere. Granted, we've done a lot of walking the past 6 or 7 days, but that's mainly because we've wanted to see things. Even at home, we've got Willesden Green 600 metres up the road, and Dollis Hill (I think it's called) only about 800 metres the other way.

Useability
Oyster cards are to Tube, what Myki should, eventually, hopefully, be, to Metro. RFID-enabled card. Add money to it (or a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly passes) and just swipe on, swipe off. It even tells you how much your trip costs. There's usually at least 3 machines at each station, as well as several windows. That's just touching on the usability of payment... in terms of getting around, it's pretty fantastic. I'll think of another heading for that soon.

Communication
The drivers talk to the trains fairly regularly. There are announcements in the stations consistently about the current state of the network. Admittedly, the rep we spoke to on Saturday night, after we missed the last train by 3 minutes, was pretty useless as telling us what to do and where to go to get home. The train drivers though, are pretty funny in telling us what they tell us.. one dude the other night spent 2 minutes, twice, telling off passengers - 1 had held open a door, 1 had been running for a train on a phone and couldn't decide to get on or off.
More so than all of this - for the most part, it's inherently understandable what's being said over the speakers. It's sort of like they WANT people to know what's going on. (And yes, I know that over the past month we were in Melbourne, Metro WERE getting better.)

Maps and lines
There are countless lines, going everywhere. In fact for most places in the centre, there's usually at least 2 ways to get there, on different lines. Crossing between lines is easy, once you know how to read the signs.
You always know that a train leaving from a particular platform, is going on a specific line, in a specific direction. Compare to Metro, where quite often trains will be moved to alternate platforms at the last moment, or come in on a different platform to what you were expecting.
for instance.. you know that if you get off the jubilee line at Green Park, you always need to go to Platform 1 to head towards Piccadilly Circus.

Enhancements
Ok, this is kind of a double edged sword. They are always performing works, amending the network, enhancing the network, enhancing the stations. It's like a never-finished engineering work. This is excellent, because it means they are trying to improve the network to meet the needs of a growing city. On the downside, it does mean lines get cancelled sometimes, or replacement busses are needed, or only two escalators are working, crap like that. Oh well.
Compare it to the metropolitan train network in Melbourne. I can remember being in Melbourne over 10 years ago, and being on a train somewhere. About the only thing different between now and then, and I shit you not, is they have removed zone 3, so there's only two zones now. An additional two platforms have been added on the Craigieburn/Broadmeadows line. That's ALL. In ten years of Melbourne train networks, and the growth Melbourne has been going through,
they've done precisely Sweet. Fuck. All.

---

There are negatives however. I'm relatively new to London, and I suspect after time I may start to find flaws. Here's a few where Metlink or Metro is better however.

Tickets and fees
Ticket costs on Metro are much, much, much lower. If I get a two hour ticket, I can jump on, and off metro trains, any metlink bus, and any tram, as often as I want, provided my ticket is valid for that time and zone. If I jump off the tube at green park, and jump back on again at Green Park 15 minutes later to go elsewhere, I'll get stung for another journey. And that's 1 pound eight, if it's offpeak, and 2.30 if it's peak. Maximum daily charge is 6 pound almost. So in price, I think Metro definitely wins out, as well as in flexibility of movement within a fixed price.


I'm sure I had another win for Metro in my head, but I just can't think of it right now.. Anyway.. this was supposed to be a short post, about some of the differences.. so there ya go, I'm feeling wordy.