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C00LAS1CE
Joined: 14 Feb 2010
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 Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:40 am Post subject: Why isn't the subway open 24 hours? |
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As I was walking home tonight (along with everyone else on the packed train) as the subway closed down 2 stops before my destination, I was wondering this. It doesn't make sense to me why the Seoul Metro isn't open 24 hours a day. I understand it's expensive to operate and might even do so at a loss, but it just seems like a 24 hour subway is a basic necessity in any major world city such as this one.
Another question - what possible reason could there be for the subway closing at midnight on weekends and 1 am on weekdays? Isn't it common knowledge that people stay out LATER on weekends?? |
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nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Why isn't the subway open 24 hours? |
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| C00LAS1CE wrote: |
Another question - what possible reason could there be for the subway closing at midnight on weekends and 1 am on weekdays? Isn't it common knowledge that people stay out LATER on weekends?? |
Seoul Metro conductors gotta hit the clubs too. |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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This is the time that they do maintenance on the tracks. You may have also noted the barriers being installed on platforms. This is also done during these hours. Advertising sign changes etc. is all done outside of hours.
The London tube is the same as well, Paris Metro as well. Not sure about NYC though. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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When I last visited Washington, DC, the subway system there was not open 24 hours. Is Washington not a major world city?
Last edited by CentralCali on Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| The NYC subway is open 24 hours with reduced service. |
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Auslegung
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Location: MB, SC
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I've heard it allows the taxis to make more money. Not sure if there's any truth to that, though it definitely accomplishes that. |
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Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Auslegung wrote: |
| I've heard it allows the taxis to make more money. Not sure if there's any truth to that, though it definitely accomplishes that. |
I heard that, too. I heard the buses and train stations have some sort of agreement with the taxi drivers. Sucks for us, good for them.
But come on, shutting the trains down at 11pm is ridiculous. |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Why isn't the subway open 24 hours? |
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| C00LAS1CE wrote: |
As I was walking home tonight (along with everyone else on the packed train) as the subway closed down 2 stops before my destination, I was wondering this. It doesn't make sense to me why the Seoul Metro isn't open 24 hours a day. I understand it's expensive to operate and might even do so at a loss, but it just seems like a 24 hour subway is a basic necessity in any major world city such as this one.
Another question - what possible reason could there be for the subway closing at midnight on weekends and 1 am on weekdays? Isn't it common knowledge that people stay out LATER on weekends?? |
2 stops before your destination does not make sense at all. The train should finish it's route at least.
But, yeah it makes sense why the metro isn't open 24 hours a day:
1) As someone mentioned before: maintenance
2) Costs. Who's going to pay for it? Do you want to pay more per ride? Many people don't.
The reason why it's open later on the weekdays is because Korean men stay out later on the weekdays.
Finally, if you have it open 24 hours a day you're gonna inevitably have a reduced level of quality.
Places like NY have 24 hour service, but it's probably the worst subway in any major "world" city. What a piece of crap it is.
Be glad that the Seoul metro is clean and has all the services/amenities that it does during it's operating hours. |
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nero
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| When I last visited Washington, DC, the subway system there was not open 24 hours. Is Washington not a major word city? |
Actually it is a major word city, what with all the politicians blowing on. However, I wouldn't consider Washington to be a major WORLD city. New York, certainly. LA most definitely. It is important in a political sense to the US, but just like Canberra in Australia, it is not a 'world' city by any means. |
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Mikejelai
Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| labor unions |
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highstreet
Joined: 13 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Good business strategy buddy. Lose money? Who cares! |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Just about everybody gets stuck somewhere, at some point, because the subway line closes for the night. It can happen even if you watch the clock. It's happened to me, twice, and both times it was a major inconvenience. Just make sure you have some money on you for something to eat and dip inside a PC bong for a couple hours until the subway starts running again at 5 am. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Mikejelai wrote: |
| labor unions |
Yeah, I remember the union putting up a fight when they tried to extend subway hours a few years ago (circa 2004?) by an hour or two. The union cited safety reasons of their workers, and they may have a point. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the only 24 hour subway system I know of is New York city and they have dedicated platforms for their late-night trains. |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| highstreet wrote: |
| Good business strategy buddy. Lose money? Who cares! |
Why would you assume that you would make more money by extending the hours? There's less ridership during those times and wages would probably have to go up 1.5x-2x. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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| There are some benefits to closing the stations, even if for a few hours each night. They can keep out drunks and homeless people, and it can limit criminal activity in the stations. It puts them out on the streets but at least it can help to keep the subway stations clean and safer. Besides, do you really want to be strolling through some of these subway stations at 3 am? |
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