The Great American MINI Metro in Buffalo

Discover the unique charms of the Buffalo mini metro and the city-scape. Designed in the 1970s this metro started running in 1985. For the first 20 years, the street was a pedestrian mall, allowing the trains to have it all to themselves. These long, high floor cars run fast in a deep tunnel and then emerge downtown for street running allowing customers to board and alight at ground level. Here it is fare free and operates as a downtown distributor streetcar, yet its riders enjoy a one seat, high speed ride to their outlying destination. The interiors are thoughtfully laid out with some transverse seating for longer haul riders, and longitudinal seating with spaces in between for luggage. Very smart, since Buffalo is a college town and the most service is provided on Saturdays for shoppers.

This line is as nice as anything found in Canada and large parts of Europe. Other than the rolling stock refurbishment and a couple of mall station eliminations/brandings, very little has changed in 36 years. The stations can accommodate 4 cars, and all day time weekday trains on my visit were three cars for social distancing. The system is better used than my people-shy photography technique shows. I never saw any cop, nor fare inspector, nor bums or scary types (or graffiti). Advertising is very limited as well. The system has always had an honor system for fare payment, but like the recent conversion of the Los Angeles Red Line, fare gates and new TVMs are about to go in.

Cincinnati and other smallish American cities tried and failed to build a Metro. Buffalo could well have limped into the future with buses, but for PROGRESSIVE New York leaders in cooperation with the Carter Administration's UMTA - this model mini-metro was built early in the light rail renaissance - which kicked off with the start of the San Diego MTS in 1981.

At the end of the video you can see the original livery and exclusive Main Street Transit Mall as videoed by new Youtube channel Barry Train. Curiously the traction motors make much more sound post refurbishment, and I must assume this is intentional, for safety reasons. Also the operators are no longer required to frequently run the warning bell, on the street, as there is currently very little foot traffic. Look carefully for the full accessibility feature at the surface stations. They have a high platform at the door behind the operator's cab for wheels and others who don't want to use the folding steps. I also appreciate that the automated announcements are brief and limited to station names and door safety warnings. Many new systems degrade their service by constantly repeating rules and warnings over a large percentage of their journey time. NFTA deserves much credit for keeping this modern yet aging facility in top form.

Видео The Great American MINI Metro in Buffalo канала Trainluvr