How Elevated Rail Makes Cities Better

If there's one transit technology I think is under appreciated, it's elevated rail. Even as some urbanists talk about trains in the sky as if they are elevated highways, it unlocks incredible transit service on a budget and at incredible speed.

Map Data © OpenStreetMap contributors

[malcolmmccaskill]

The newest elevated rail in Melbourne is extremely quiet, and beneath the structure you hardly notice if a train is travelling overhead. It has rubberised connections for sound damping. A much older elevaterd steel rail structure in Melbourne (like the Chicago El) is so loud you can't have a conversation beneath it while a train is travelling over it.

[zeighy]

They say no to elevated rail, but would happily support elevated highway exchanges and ramps... I think it's less about the elevated but more on the it's a train and not for MY car.

[kaihang]

Rome has a problem building underground metros because they keep running into archaeological findings. Elevated railways don’t tend to interfere with the late Spartacus’ 2000 year-old buried pottery collection.

[newsjunkie]

What destroys neighborhoods is highways, not public transit infrastructure!

[fmbultyr]

The best part about elevated rail: You can build cycling paths underneath that are then sheltered from (most of) the rain!

[Marconius]

"Elevated trains destroy neighborhoods"
Tokyo: *utter confusion*

[matthewconstantine]

I actually really like the "ugly" elevated rail look of NYC & Philadelphia. I'm not going to fight someone putting in a sleek, ultra-modern styled thing because the result is more important to me than the appearance. However, I like my architecture & design to be a bit more chunky, rough, and cluttered (characterful). More Art Deco or Art Nouveau, mixed with functional, industrial styles than Modern or *shudder* Brutalist. I could go my whole life without seeing another giant, smooth, cement surface on a structure.

When DC's Metro lines are above ground and sometimes elevated, it's definitely the most pleasant part of the ride, too.

[joermnyc]

Note: the High Line in NYC was never a public transit line. It replaced street running freight.
Edit: elevated rail won't be noisy IF they invest in continuously welded rail.

[evantrenholm]

As a transit advocate in Halifax NS, we’ve long known that a subway was never feasible because our province’s terrain is nearly entirely bedrock. As such, the thought of a Skytrain-esque rapid transit system in Halifax has long been a popular idea. Someday, hopefully. Would love to get your thoughts on the best approach for our city someday!

[aubreyadams]

Tokyo, Japan and Chongqing, China elevated railways are amazing to use. Where I am, Perth, Western Australia, suburban rail lines are being elevated to remove the plethora of road level crossings, and expand and modernise the services.

[b]

Elevated rail is just so much more dignified for riders. It really makes you feel like an actual member of society and not a lower class citizen

[transitspace]

The Bir Hakeim Bridge in Paris, which carries Metro Line 6, is even classified as a national heritage site! The space under the metro viaduct is featured in romantic scenes from so many movies, and tourists specifically go there to take pictures. You also get one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine river from the metro on this bridge.

Paris maintains its tradition of beautiful elevated rail, as seen with the recently opened M11 extension, M17, and M18. However, this is now limited to uninhabited areas; as soon as there’s housing nearby, even low-density, trains go underground. GPX is 90% underground, and even M18 is 70% underground—it could have been much less. Cheap and efficient tunnel construction is likely the reason.

I also remember Rennes for having one of the best elevated rail designs, quite impressive for a city of its size!

[suvannixb]

I can't believe this is even a discussion
In Indian cities our default metro option is elevated
Underground takes too long to build😆

[louiszhang]

In DC I remember when they were building the silver line right through Tysons, politicians wanted the train to be underground instead of elevated. But it was too expensive so they ended up building the train elevated. I've never heard a single person complain about it after it was built for the same reasons you mentioned in the video. It just comes down to wrong perceptions. Whenever I walk around the elevated sections, I don't even hear the trains being there because the 8 lane stroad surrounding the metro is way louder. I'm glad North America is building more elevated rail nowadays.

[jorgeroman]

I like how in North america, elevated highways are totally fine, but the moment you basically put a train on something similar it causes controversy.

[ojascreates]

unpopular opinion: make highways underground and rail transit elevated /s

[jeffrychchen]

Just need to make the supports more aesthetically pleasing. That would sway most of the “it ruins the neighborhood” crowd.

[GojiMet]

I live very close to both the Astoria elevated line AND the Amtrak viaduct that heads over the Hell Gate bridge, both built in the early 1910s. You can HEAR the differences in loudness of the open-floor plate-girders of both the elevated subway and certain portions of the Amtrak viaduct, and CONTRAST it to the quiteness of the concrete sections of the Amtrak viaduct. Just stand under the 29th Street or 33rd Street arches, where the Amtrak viaduct transitions from concrete to steel! It goes from simply hearing the pantograph against the catenary wires to this huge rumble that can be heard from blocks away. So yes, you can have a quiet elevated train!
From what I understand, building closed-concrete floor elevateds had been a consideration during the elevated construction blitz by the IRT and BMT, but that was more expensive so the cheaper open-floor was used instead. Think the more expensive closed-floor concrete Flushing line section over Queens Boulevard versus the open-floor section over Roosevelt Avenue. Big difference at 48th Street, where the transition happens!
The noise argument was also used against extending the Astoria line to LaGuardia Airport. But it is very silly, considering that new apartments and housing has, and is, being built right next to the existing line. People are okay living next to the noisy elevated train! And you can use a concrete viaduct instead!

[adanactnomew]

I hate comparisons of elevated rail to 60s freeways in downtowns. No, a skinny elevated guideway with a tiny footprint that doesnt require any parking is not at all like massive freeways that move far less people per metre of width.

[benjouras]

As a Chicagoan, I love the 'L'. It's central to the city identity, & the most beautiful view of downtown is riding the train over the river in the Loop. Plus you've got spaces like the Low Line & entry into Merchandise Mart which can only exist because of the elevation. I had people visiting tell me how shocked they were that the elevated tracks ran through some of the nicest parts of the city, & I thought it was funny because the elevated portions are a lot prettier than most of the underground stations