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Light Rail. The Subway, The Metro. The Tube. No matter what name they call it, a public train system is an easy and economical way to get to work, get your bearings in a new city, save some cash, and save the environment from further pollution.
If riding light rail is a new experience for you, the following tips will help you to understand how it works and to deliver you safely and stress-free to your destination.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
If you are planning to use the train for your daily commute, it’s always a good idea to try it first on a weekend or during non-peak hours, especially if you’re not sure which stop will put you closest to your place of business. Morning and afternoon rush hours also make for more crowded trains which, for a newcomer, can sometimes make it difficult to hear announcements or maneuver toward the exits.
If you are going to be using light rail while you are on vacation, your hotel concierge can provide you with a system map as well as timetables. Most trains run every quarter or half hour from 6 a.m. until midnight with reduced service on major holidays. Since you will probably be hopping on and off at different stops in the course of sightseeing, the purchase of an all day pass as opposed to individual tickets is recommended.
COLOR CODED MAPS
Since not every station is staffed with personnel to assist with directions, the city transportation agencies want to make their facilities as user-friendly as possible. To that end, you will find large system maps located next to the kiosks and vending machines where tokens and tickets are sold. If it’s a large city such as Washington, D.C., Boston or New York, passengers will often be required to transfer to different trains in order to get where they want to go. Accordingly, the maps are color coded to correspond to the north/south and east/west routes.
When you have located the name of your departure station (think of it as “You Are Here”), the names of the various other stations at which the train makes a stop will be identified along the same color line. Let’s say that you are currently at the WATERFORD stop. If you rode the train all the way north, the last stop on that line would be QUIGLEY. If you rode the train to its southernmost station, you would arrive in BROWNSVILLE. To get to a stop which is not on your line, you will need to locate the nearest transfer station which services the second line that you want. Transfer stations or “hubs” will be readily identifiable on the maps.
Assuming that you want to go to the city zoo and that its corresponding stop, ZOOBURG, is just before QUIGLEY in the example given above, you would be boarding a northbound train. To make it even easier for you to find the right train, you will see overhead billboards that show you which platforms serve which directions. And, just like a city bus, the trains themselves display their “end” destination on the front and sides of each car. You will also find route maps posted inside the cars themselves, just in case you need to refresh your memory on how many stops you’ll be making before you arrive at your destination.
TOKENS AND TICKETS
The map that helped you identify where you wanted to go will also display the corresponding one-way fares to each station. To ride the train, you will need to purchase tokens or tickets. Since the vending machines don’t accept anything over $20 bills, be sure you have plenty of $1-$5 bills and quarters when you go to purchase your ticket.
If you will be riding light rail on a daily basis to get to your job, be sure to check with your employer regarding the purchase of monthly passes. To encourage ridership for their employees, a lot of companies are now participating in programs in which they will share a portion of the cost. When you consider what you are saving in terms of gas, parking and vehicle maintenance, it’s well worth looking into.
To board the train, you will either deposit your tokens in a slot or feed your ticket through a scanner which will then allow you to pass through a turnstile that leads to the train platforms. Again, this is why it’s a good idea to practice your trip on a slower day when you can watch how the “locals” do it. In traveling to other cities, I’ve also found that the commuters are always helpful in explaining how their light rail system works if you really find yourself stymied.
If you have purchased an all-day pass, don’t lose it! Just like cash, someone else could find it and use it.
In the event that you bought a one-way fare but ended up deciding not to get off for an extra stop or two, you will need to add funds to the ticket in order to exit the station. Not to worry! At the exit turnstiles, you will find vending machines that allow you to make up the difference.
In some light-rail cities such as Sacramento, California, the trains are located above-ground and can be accessed at street level without having to go through a turnstile. Since there is no attendant at each stop to verify that passengers have purchased tickets to ride, people have often been tempted to take advantage of the honor system. Be warned, however, that although an attendant may not be in sight, it doesn’t mean that they’re not riding in the actual cars and pretending to passengers. If you are asked to show your ticket and do not have one, the fine could run you as high as $200.
A FEW FINAL RULES
Eating, drinking and smoking are prohibited on light rail trains. You will also see notices posted that request courtesy to other passengers insofar as talking quietly and using headphones if you want to listen to your CD player. Animals are only allowed on the train if they are guide or service dogs. The seats nearest the exits are reserved for elderly and handicapped passengers and are clearly marked. Last of all, if you are traveling with a lot of baggage (i.e., going to the airport), try to schedule your trip during non-peak hours when the trains are not as packed with people.
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