Editing 1196: Subways
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| titletext = About one in three North American subway stops are in NYC. | | titletext = About one in three North American subway stops are in NYC. | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | + | *The xkcd page links to [http://xkcd.com/1196/large/ a much larger version], which has another text added: | |
− | + | <blockquote style="font-style:italic"> | |
+ | For the pedantic rail enthusiasts, the definition of a subway used here is, with some caveats, "a network containing high capacity grade-separated passenger rail transit lines which run frequently, serve an urban core, and are underground or elevated for at least part of their downtown route." For the rest of you, the definition is "a bunch of trains under a city." | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | {{TOC}} | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
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The comic shows the maps of all North American {{w|subway}} networks. In reality, none of these systems are interconnected, but in the diagram subways from different cities that have the same color on the official subway map have whimsically named connections, such as the "Ohio-California Tunnel" connecting the Green Lines of Cleveland and Los Angeles, or the "Rocky Mountain Tunnel" connecting the Blue Lines of Chicago and San Francisco. Vancouver and San Francisco are connected through a station called Richmond, which appears to double as {{w|Richmond, British Columbia}} and {{w|Richmond, California}}. The "Springfield Monorail" is fictional, from the animated series ''{{w|The Simpsons}}'' (see {{w|Marge vs. the Monorail}}), but its approximate location on this map would suggest the [http://www.seattlemonorail.com/ Seattle Monorail], or perhaps Springfield, Oregon, which [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Matt-Groening-Reveals-the-Location-of-the-Real-Springfield.html Matt Groening revealed was the inspiration for the Simpsons' hometown]. | The comic shows the maps of all North American {{w|subway}} networks. In reality, none of these systems are interconnected, but in the diagram subways from different cities that have the same color on the official subway map have whimsically named connections, such as the "Ohio-California Tunnel" connecting the Green Lines of Cleveland and Los Angeles, or the "Rocky Mountain Tunnel" connecting the Blue Lines of Chicago and San Francisco. Vancouver and San Francisco are connected through a station called Richmond, which appears to double as {{w|Richmond, British Columbia}} and {{w|Richmond, California}}. The "Springfield Monorail" is fictional, from the animated series ''{{w|The Simpsons}}'' (see {{w|Marge vs. the Monorail}}), but its approximate location on this map would suggest the [http://www.seattlemonorail.com/ Seattle Monorail], or perhaps Springfield, Oregon, which [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Matt-Groening-Reveals-the-Location-of-the-Real-Springfield.html Matt Groening revealed was the inspiration for the Simpsons' hometown]. | ||
− | The [http://www.radicalcartography.net/subways.html Urban Mass Transit Systems of North America] map (right) created by [http://hshm.yale.edu/rankin Yale Professor Bill Rankin] on his | + | The [http://www.radicalcartography.net/subways.html Urban Mass Transit Systems of North America] map (right) created by [http://hshm.yale.edu/rankin Yale Professor Bill Rankin] on his web site [http://www.radicalcartography.net/ Radical Cartography] in 2006 presents all of the subway systems in North America at the same scale using geographic, instead of topological, layout. |
+ | |||
+ | The networks on xkcd's map are displayed with absolutely no consideration to geographic position, in order to connect like-colored routes together. While {{w|Vancouver}} is the most North-West, {{w|Mexico City}} being the most South, and San Francisco the most west, distances are not accurate (in reality, Vancouver is closer to Chicago than to Toronto for example) and cities are often arranged in the wrong direction from one another: | ||
* San Francisco is shown directly west of Toronto - in reality west southwest | * San Francisco is shown directly west of Toronto - in reality west southwest | ||
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===={{w|MBTA subway|Boston}}==== | ===={{w|MBTA subway|Boston}}==== | ||
− | *The "Green Line Extension to Canada" references {{w|Green Line Extension|the actual project}} to extend the {{w|Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line}} into Medford, north of Boston | + | *The "Green Line Extension to Canada" references {{w|Green Line Extension|the actual project}} to extend the {{w|Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line}} into Medford, north of Boston. |
*The "Ashmont–Manhattan High-Speed Line" shown as connecting Boston's Red Line to New York City's 1 train is a play on the {{w|Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line}} in Boston. | *The "Ashmont–Manhattan High-Speed Line" shown as connecting Boston's Red Line to New York City's 1 train is a play on the {{w|Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line}} in Boston. | ||
− | *The | + | *The {{w|Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line}} stops "Skinflower" and "Bonevine" are plays on the actual name of the Red Line's terminus, {{w|Braintree (MBTA station)|Braintree}}. |
− | *The {{w|Orange Line (MBTA)|Orange Line}} terminates | + | *The {{w|Orange Line (MBTA)|Orange Line}} terminates in the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in Dorchester. Therefore, it is connected to the {{w|Jamaica–179th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Jamaica 179 St}} station on the map. |
====San Francisco==== | ====San Francisco==== | ||
*Both {{w|Muni Metro|Muni}} and {{w|Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART}} are depicted in San Francisco's map and are completely separate systems, although the map gives the impression that trains interline between the two. Non-wheelchair-accessible stops on Muni lines are omitted. | *Both {{w|Muni Metro|Muni}} and {{w|Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART}} are depicted in San Francisco's map and are completely separate systems, although the map gives the impression that trains interline between the two. Non-wheelchair-accessible stops on Muni lines are omitted. | ||
*{{w|Richmond, California|Richmond}} is the name of the city where the northern terminus of the {{w|Richmond-Fremont line|Richmond–Fremont}} and the {{w|Richmond-Daly City/Millbrae line|Richmond–Daly City/Millbrae}} BART lines are located, and shares its name with {{w|Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond, British Columbia}} (see Vancouver section). | *{{w|Richmond, California|Richmond}} is the name of the city where the northern terminus of the {{w|Richmond-Fremont line|Richmond–Fremont}} and the {{w|Richmond-Daly City/Millbrae line|Richmond–Daly City/Millbrae}} BART lines are located, and shares its name with {{w|Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond, British Columbia}} (see Vancouver section). | ||
− | *"Sunnydale" is the {{w|Sunnydale Station|actual name}} of the terminus of the Muni {{w|T Third Street}} line, not to be confused with {{w|Sunnydale|the city}} where ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is set | + | *"Sunnydale" is the {{w|Sunnydale Station|actual name}} of the terminus of the Muni {{w|T Third Street}} line, not to be confused with {{w|Sunnydale|the city}} where ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is set. |
===={{w|Los Angeles Metro Rail|Los Angeles}}==== | ===={{w|Los Angeles Metro Rail|Los Angeles}}==== | ||
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*The Orange Line is the only {{w|bus rapid transit}} (BRT) line to be shown on the map. LA Metro also operates a second BRT line, the {{w|Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)|Silver Line}}, which is not shown. | *The Orange Line is the only {{w|bus rapid transit}} (BRT) line to be shown on the map. LA Metro also operates a second BRT line, the {{w|Silver Line (Los Angeles Metro)|Silver Line}}, which is not shown. | ||
− | ====New York City==== | + | ===={{w|New York City Subway|New York City}}==== |
*The {{w|New York City Subway}}, {{w|Port Authority Trans-Hudson}} (PATH), and the single line of the {{w|Staten Island Railway}} (with a connection via the {{w|Staten Island Ferry}}) are shown. | *The {{w|New York City Subway}}, {{w|Port Authority Trans-Hudson}} (PATH), and the single line of the {{w|Staten Island Railway}} (with a connection via the {{w|Staten Island Ferry}}) are shown. | ||
*{{w|Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica}} is the name of the neighborhood in Queens where the E, F, and J/Z trains terminate. Kingston is the capital and largest city in the country of {{w|Jamaica}}. | *{{w|Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica}} is the name of the neighborhood in Queens where the E, F, and J/Z trains terminate. Kingston is the capital and largest city in the country of {{w|Jamaica}}. | ||
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===Missing cities=== | ===Missing cities=== | ||
Not all cities with a subway are shown on the map. Missing from the map: | Not all cities with a subway are shown on the map. Missing from the map: | ||
− | *Pittsburgh (Port Authority of Allegheny County) has a light rail subway tunnel | + | *Pittsburgh (Port Authority of Allegheny County) has a light rail subway tunnel in the downtown area. The subway opened in 1985, which is before this comic was published.{{Citation needed}} |
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
− | + | *A print version of this comic is available in the [https://store.xkcd.com/products/subways xkcd store]. | |
This comic also makes a good map for the Subway Planet in [[2765: Escape Speed]]. | This comic also makes a good map for the Subway Planet in [[2765: Escape Speed]]. |