Do subway systems make money?


Do subway systems make money? By charging passengers less than the actual cost of the service, the MTA is subsidizing countless industries that rely on workers who are not able to live closer to their jobs. This is by no means unique to New York City, as most public mass-transit systems around the world make no profit.


How good is UK public transport?

In large cities, public transport networks are well-developed and cost-effective. However, in smaller towns and cities, the service can be temperamental at best. Public transport in the UK takes on many forms. For longer journeys, the UK offers trains, long-distance coaches, and airplanes.


What is the most profitable subway system in the world?

Hong Kong's MTR Corporation runs the most valuable metro railway in the world. In 2017 it banked US$2.2 billion (HK$17 billion) profit, more than enough to buy seven Boeing 777 jets.


Do any public transportation systems make a profit?

This can safely be said because no major public transit system in America makes money. Transportation experts can't name a single major transit system that is a moneymaker in this country. It's not a profit-making industry, said Mantill Williams, spokesman for the American Public Transportation Association.


Why is MTR so cheap?

Originally Answered: How can the the Hong Kong MTR (metro transportation) be so cheap? The answer is simple, the MTR and Airport Express networks comprise a total of 93 stations and carry an average of about 4.84 million passengers per day. If there were fewer passengers, it would be much more expensive.


Why did London buses stop taking cash?

London's buses are no longer accepting cash. Transport for London (TfL) said dwindling numbers of passengers using money to pay for their journeys had prompted the change. Research shows that 99% of customers use Oyster, prepaid tickets, contactless payment cards or concessionary tickets.


Does the UK have a good public transportation system?

Many of the UK's major cities have excellent public transport networks. Trams run in many cities including Edinburgh, Nottingham, Manchester, and Sheffield. Many cities such as Bath, York and Oxford are walkable.


Which UK city has the best transportation system?

London is famously known for its dot-to-dot underground train line service – more commonly referred to as The Tube or The Underground, which you can use to visit approximately 375 stations, putting itself in first place for the city with the highest number of train stations, followed by Glasgow with 186 stations and ...


How is the MTR so profitable?

MTR stations host more than 1,400 shops and nearly 47,000 advertising units. The company charges rent as well as earning money from telecoms operators by allowing them to provide mobile network coverage inside the rail system.


Why does public transit lose money?

The state of public transit in the U.S. is declining rapidly as systems across the nation face a fiscal crisis. Ridership has continuously declined since 2015 and after seeing a steep drop during the pandemic, ridership has failed to recover to its previous levels.


Why is UK public transport so expensive?

General secretary of the RMT Mick Lynch told the New Statesman: “Unlike trains in the rest of Europe, which tend to be publicly owned and have cheaper fares, most UK trains are privatised, which means that a profit has to be paid out, reducing the scope for fare cuts.”


Which UK city has the best public transportation?

Data Reveals Which UK Cities Have the Best Public Transport Links
  • London – Cheapest City to Travel In & The Most Train Stations.
  • Stoke-on-Trent – Most Bus Stops Per 100,000 People.
  • Nottingham – Most Bus Routes Per 100,000 People.
  • Leeds – Most Student Residences Per 100,000 People.


Is public transportation bad for the economy?

Public transit is a vital force for the American economy. The American Public Transportation Association estimates that 87% of trips directly benefit the local economy, with $1 invested in public transit believed to generate $5 in economic returns.


What is the most expensive train line in the UK?

The Luton Dart will replace the Heathrow Express as the most expensive rail journey in Britain. Tickets for the route amount to £3.70 per mile and a four-minute one-way trip between Luton Airport Parkway Station and the terminal will cost £4.90 with no discount for return trips.