How Elevated Rail Makes Cities Better

Summary

In this video, the host passionately defends elevated trains, a mode of urban transit often criticized by certain urbanists. Contrary to the belief that elevated trains are detrimental to neighborhoods, the host argues that they are an efficient, affordable, and beneficial form of rapid transit. Highlighting examples from cities like Chicago, New York, and Berlin, the video showcases how elevated trains can enhance cityscapes, provide stunning views, and reduce traffic and emissions. The host also touches on the ease of construction and maintenance of elevated rail systems, making a compelling case for their adoption in urban planning.

Takeaways

• 🚝 The video advocates for the benefits of elevated trains, countering the notion that they are detrimental to urban environments.
• 🌆 Elevated trains are a common feature in cities worldwide, including historic ones like Paris and London.
• 🏙️ Despite initial resistance, people in cities like Paris and Berlin have come to appreciate and rely on their elevated rail systems.
• 🌉 The Stadtbahn in Berlin, built over 150 years ago, is highlighted as an example of how elevated rail can efficiently serve a city's transportation needs.
• 🏡 Elevated trains can be less intrusive and less noisy than cars, contrary to common complaints about their impact on neighborhoods.
• 🌿 Elevated rail can offer unique public spaces and greenways underneath, enhancing urban landscapes.
• 🌍 Elevated trains provide a perspective of the city that is not possible with underground transit, adding to the urban experience.
• 🚗 Elevated rail systems can be more cost-effective and quicker to build compared to underground systems, making them ideal for cities looking to rapidly expand their public transit.
• 🌐 The video suggests that elevated rail is particularly suited to cities with existing sprawl and infrastructure, like those in North America.
• 🔊 Modern elevated rail systems are designed to be quiet and unobtrusive, with minimal noise and vibration.
• 🌐 Elevated rail can be an adaptable and expandable solution for urban transit, allowing for easy maintenance and station upgrades.

Q & A

What is the main argument Reece makes about elevated trains?

Reece argues that elevated trains are a beneficial technology for cities, providing affordable, rapid transit that isn't hidden away from people and can be one of the best things about a city.

Why does Reece disagree with the notion that elevated trains destroy neighborhoods?

Reece disagrees because he believes that elevated trains are popular and integral parts of cities like Chicago and New York, and that removing them would be undesirable to residents.

What is the 'Stadtbahn' in Berlin and why is it significant?

The 'Stadtbahn' is an elevated rail line in central Berlin that carries both the S-Bahn and regional trains. It is significant because it has been in use for over 150 years and allows hundreds of thousands of people to commute through the city center daily.

How does Reece describe the experience of riding an elevated train in comparison to being underground?

Reece describes riding an elevated train as more pleasant than being underground because it allows for views of the sky, fresh air, and a unique perspective of the city that isn't replicable otherwise.

What are some of the benefits Reece lists for elevated rail systems?

Reece lists benefits such as affordability, rapid transit, minimal noise pollution, the ability to add stations and maintenance easily, and the potential for transit-oriented development.

Why does Reece think elevated rail is particularly suitable for cities in North America?

Reece thinks elevated rail is suitable for North American cities because they are often sprawled with large roads and highways, and elevated rail can be built quickly and inexpensively in these environments.

What is the significance of the Second Avenue in New York City in the context of this script?

The Second Avenue in New York City is mentioned as an example of where New Yorkers would likely want to have elevated trains back, indicating a desire for more elevated rail infrastructure.

How does Reece address the concern that elevated trains are loud and disruptive?

Reece addresses this by stating that modern elevated rail systems are quiet and unnoticeable, and that cars are generally louder and more constant sources of noise.

What is the role of elevated rail in transit-oriented development according to Reece?

Reece suggests that elevated rail can directly link destinations with train stations through sky bridges, creating development that is not just transit-oriented but tied directly in with the transit.

How does Reece view the potential uses of space underneath elevated rail?

Reece views the space underneath elevated rail as being versatile, with examples including tiny homes in Japan, restaurants in Europe, and greenways and walkways in various cities around the world.

What is Nebula, as mentioned in the script?

Nebula is a streaming platform owned by Reece and his creator friends, featuring over 14,000 titles that can be watched ad-free, including exclusive and early access videos from various creators.

Outlines

00:00

🚝 The Appeal of Elevated Trains

The video script begins by addressing the misconceptions about elevated trains, often criticized for being unsightly and disruptive. The speaker, Reece, passionately defends their role in cities like Chicago and New York, highlighting their historical and practical significance. He argues that elevated trains are not only popular but also integral to the identity of these cities. Reece then shifts the discussion to the modern benefits of elevated rail, emphasizing its affordability, rapid transit capabilities, and the unique views it offers to residents and visitors alike. He uses the Stadtbahn in Berlin as a prime example, describing how it efficiently moves thousands of people daily through the city center, and how its presence enhances the urban landscape rather than detracts from it.

05:03

🌆 Elevated Rail: A City's Best View

In the second paragraph, Reece continues to extol the virtues of elevated rail, focusing on the unique perspective it offers riders. He suggests that elevated trains provide a superior view of the city, allowing passengers to see the urban landscape unfold in a way that's not possible with underground transit. Reece also dispels the myth that elevated trains are noisy, comparing them favorably to the constant drone of car traffic. He points out that modern elevated rail systems are quiet and unobtrusive, and that they can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing, adding a layer of dimensionality to the cityscape. He also touches on the versatility of the spaces beneath elevated rail, such as greenways, walkways, and public spaces, and the ease with which elevated rail can be expanded and maintained.

10:05

🏗️ Building Up, Not Out: The Efficiency of Elevated Rail

The final paragraph of the script discusses the practical advantages of constructing elevated rail systems. Reece points out that building elevated rail is quicker and less expensive than digging underground, making it an ideal solution for cities looking to rapidly expand their public transit networks. He notes that elevated rail is particularly suited to dense urban environments and can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure. Reece also mentions how elevated rail can serve as a catalyst for transit-oriented development, with examples from cities like Bangkok, Delhi, and Tokyo. He concludes by reiterating the benefits of elevated rail as a natural fit for urban environments, promoting affordability, connectivity, and innovation, and encourages viewers to consider its merits over traditional light rail systems.

Keywords

💡Nebula

Nebula is a streaming service mentioned at the beginning of the script, which is sponsored by the creator of the video. It is described as a thoughtful platform created by the video creator and their friends. The service is used to introduce the video's topic and to promote exclusive content, including the video itself, which discusses the benefits of elevated rail systems.

💡Elevated Trains

Elevated trains are a central theme of the video, referring to rail systems that are constructed above ground level, often on viaducts or other structures. The video argues for their benefits, such as affordability, speed, and the ability to provide great views of the city. Examples from the script include Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City, where elevated trains are part of the urban landscape.

💡Urbanism

Urbanism is the study of cities and their design, and it is mentioned in the context of contrasting views on city planning. The video discusses a certain strain of urbanism that favors smaller buildings and parks over elevated trains, which the speaker disagrees with. Urbanism in this video is used to frame the debate over the role of elevated rail in city planning.

💡Stadtbahn

The Stadtbahn in Berlin is used as a positive example in the video to illustrate the benefits of elevated rail. It is an elevated rail line that carries both S-Bahn and intercity trains through the city center, built over 150 years ago, and is considered an essential part of Berlin's public transit system.

💡Transit Oriented Development

Transit Oriented Development refers to a type of urban planning that develops residential, commercial, and other activities around public transportation hubs. The video mentions how elevated rail can facilitate this type of development, with examples like Bangkok, Delhi, and Tokyo, where sky bridges link destinations directly with train stations.

💡S-Bahn

S-Bahn is a term used in Germany to describe a type of rapid transit system. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as one of the services that operate on the Stadtbahn in Berlin, highlighting how elevated rail can be used for high-capacity public transportation within a city.

💡Skytrain

The Skytrain in Vancouver is mentioned as an example of a modern elevated rail system that provides passengers with scenic views and efficient transit. It is used to argue that elevated rail can offer unique experiences and be an integral part of a city's identity.

💡Shinkansen

Shinkansen refers to the high-speed rail system in Japan. The video uses Shinkansen trains as an example of how elevated rail can be integrated into urban environments, providing both transportation and a reminder of the connectivity that rail systems offer.

💡Viaduct

A viaduct is a structure that allows a road, bridge, or rail line to cross a valley or other obstacle. In the video, viaducts are discussed as the physical structures that support elevated rail, and how they can be designed to be attractive and unobtrusive, contrary to some negative perceptions.

💡NIMBYism

NIMBYism stands for 'Not In My Back Yard' and refers to opposition from residents to a proposed development in their local area. The video suggests that while there might have been NIMBYism when elevated rail was first introduced in Paris, today its removal would likely be protested, indicating a shift in public opinion and acceptance of its benefits.

💡Flood Protection

The video mentions that elevated rail can provide flood protection in low-lying cities. This is an example of how elevated rail can offer additional benefits beyond transportation, such as protecting infrastructure and communities in flood-prone areas.

Highlights

Nebula is a thoughtful streaming service sponsored by the creator.

Critique of the 'small is beautiful' urbanism that opposes high-rise buildings and elevated trains.

Elevated trains are popular and beneficial contrary to some urbanist views.

Elevated trains are common globally, not just in gritty American cities.

Historic cities like Paris have embraced elevated rail despite initial NIMBYism.

The Stadtbahn in Berlin, over 150 years old, is a successful elevated rail example.

Elevated rail can reduce traffic and increase zero-emissions public transit.

Elevated rail provides iconic public spaces and economic opportunities under the tracks.

Elevated trains offer a pleasant travel experience with views and fresh air.

Elevated rail is comparable to ground-level rail in terms of noise and intrusion.

Elevated rail can serve as a reminder of efficient public transit options.

Elevated trains in Tokyo remind passengers of travel opportunities beyond the city.

Elevated trains provide unique city views that are hard to replicate.

Elevated rail can be a key part of a city's identity and visitor experience.

Elevated rail is quieter than cars and less intrusive.

Modern elevated rail systems are quiet, nimble, and sleek.

Elevated rail can add dimensionality and layers to a city's landscape.

Elevated rail viaducts can be designed to be attractive and functional.

Elevated rail provides opportunities for development underneath, like homes, restaurants, and greenways.

Elevated rail systems are adaptable, allowing for easy expansion and maintenance.

Elevated rail stations are easier and cheaper to expand compared to underground stations.

Elevated rail can be part of transit-oriented development, linking destinations directly to stations.

Elevated rail can provide flood protection in low-lying cities.

Elevated rail is quick and inexpensive to build, making it ideal for dense urban environments.

Elevated rail is an efficient solution for North American cities with sprawling infrastructure.

Elevated rail outperforms light rail in terms of speed and ridership.

Elevated rail is a fantastic technology for affordability, bringing people together, and enabling great ideas.

Nebula features exclusive and early access videos from urbanist creators.

Nebula offers a lifetime membership for a one-time payment of $300.

Transcripts

This video is sponsored by Nebula,  

the thoughtful streaming service  created by me and my creator friends.

Check out the link in the description  or stay tuned to learn more.

There's a certain strain of urbanism  which I've never aligned with.

It's the sort of small is beautiful worldview  where any building over five stories is bad,

and the best part of the city is  the park at the edge of the city,  

which is by definition *not* city.

One thing that such people often  don't like are elevated trains,  

including a prominent urbanist who once quite  famously said that they destroy neighbourhoods —

Something I took quite personally coming  from Canada's own local elevated train town.

I think many of these attitudes are shaped by  

an imagined version of Chicago,  Philadelphia, and New York City,

where the elevated trains serve only as a  backdrop for scary 20th century crime movies

or as a way of portraying America's  best cities as rundown towns.

Of course, if you ask the average Chicagoan  

if they'd rather get rid of the  elevated trains, they'd say no.

And the same thing is no doubt true for New York.

In fact, I'd say that New Yorkers  would probably like to get some  

of their elevated trains back,  for example, on Second Avenue.

I mean, it's really hilarious. New  York's second or third most popular  

attraction is literally an old elevated rail line.

These things are very popular.

But I want to step back from the elevated trains  of some of the world's greatest cities and talk  

about what elevated rail is like today as  well as in the past, what its benefits are,

and why we need to champion this obviously  beneficial technology for more cities:

A technology that lets us build affordable  

rapid transit quickly and that  isn't hidden away from people.

Transit that can be one of the best things about  

a city and which can provide residents  an incredible view of their metropolis.

Let's talk about it.

Hey, I'm Reece and this is RMTransit, a channel  about flying trains and why they're fantastic.

As you probably gleaned from  the intro to this video,  

elevated trains were certainly common in  the past, and they're common today as well.

And while most people, especially  in North America, associate the  

idea of an elevated train with a certain  gritty American metropolis like Chicago,

the truth is elevated trains can be found all  around the world, including in historic cities.

From Paris, to Hamburg, and  even places in London where  

giant embankments elevated trains before the  elevated steel structures of other cities,

elevated rail is common in  cities around the world.

And while I am certain there  was lots of NIMBYism when Paris  

put up these steel viaducts that carry  some of its metro lines a century ago,

I'm also certain that today there would be  riots if they were ever slated for removal.

Elevated rail is visible.

People don't like change.

Change which is visible, is  easily protested against.

I was actually inspired to make this  video by the Stadtbahn in Berlin.

The Stadtbahn is an elevated rail  line right through central Berlin  

that carries both the S-Bahn and  regional and intercity trains

through the centre of the city past some  of the most iconic and historic locations.

It was built over 150 years ago.

From the Hauptbahnhof to Alexanderplatz.

The Stadtbahn lets hundreds of thousands of people  

glide effortlessly through the  centre of Berlin every single day.

And what's really stuck with me is that  when I rode into the city on the train from  

the airport and I passed buildings that  were densely packed around the Stadtbahn

so often that I could often see into people's  apartments where they were working at their desks,

they rarely even turned up to look  at the train that was passing by.

Quite the opposite, Berlin would  be way worse without the Stadtbahn.

There would be more traffic and  less zero emissions public transit.

The city would also have less iconic  public spaces and the city wouldn't  

have any of the amazing restaurants and  stores located under the elevated rail.

And I have to say, as much  as I love underground rail,  

including the other cross city S-Bahn in Berlin,

there's something so much more  pleasant about being above the  

ground and being able to see the sky  and have fresh air and birds chirping

as you wait for your train in the old  historic structures of the Stadtbahn.

Of course, it's worth noting that  elevated trains aren't actually  

all that different from those at ground level.

So often when ground level rail  lines need to cross through a city,  

they're on embankments or they are elevated above  roads and they end up being elevated anyways.

At the same time, in most urban environments,  

rail lines are surrounded by  development, vegetation and other things

which mean that you often don't see or hear  them unless you actually want to use them.

But we shouldn't have to pretend  that public transit needs to be  

hidden away because elevated rail  is great in so many different ways.

Particularly along roadways, elevated rail  is a fantastic way of reminding everyone,  

including those who aren't even driving,

that they could be getting to their destination  

faster and for less money  if they got on the train.

In Tokyo, you even get reminded that  you could head to any of Japan's other  

great places if you hopped on one of the elevated  

high speed Shinkansen trains that  weave their way through the city.

I'll also just say as a public transit rider  

who's clocked hundreds of thousands of  kilometres on trains all over the world,

being below ground is always going  to be worse than being above ground,

where you can see out the  windows as the city passes by.

And being elevated above the ground  is even better because you get a  

view of the city that you can't  really replicate any other way.

In any of the cities I've mentioned in this  video, one of the best ways a visitor can  

see and understand the city is just to get on  one of the elevated trains and ride around.

I'd even argue that in my hometown of Vancouver,  

one of the most incredible experiences  you can have is riding the Skytrain,  

looking from the ocean to the mountains as  you weave along the hills of Metro Vancouver.

It's a special experience that wouldn't be  possible if the train was buried in the bedrock.

Back to Berlin, I’ll note that since the  Stadtbahn isn't a giant steel structure,  

it doesn't have the effect of  acting like a giant tuning fork,  

amplifying the sound of every  train that flies over it.

You truly hear less from an elevated train,  

possibly carrying 1000 people travelling  overhead, than one jerk in a loud car.

People so often complain or ask  questions about trains being loud,  

but the reality is there's just not that  much to make noise compared to cars.

For one, on any busy road, car traffic  is going to be nearly constant.

You're always going to have  the drum of cars rolling by.

But train corridors, even frequent ones, have much  less time where trains are actually passing you.

At the same time, trains  just have less to make noise.

While a car has its rubber tires and its  big engine, a train has steel wheels which  

minimize friction and noise, as well as  electric motors that quietly hum along.

It's also worth pointing out that modern elevated  rail systems, which aren't prone to being nearly  

as rickety or vibration laden as those of  old, are totally quiet and often unnoticeable.

A modern elevated rail guideway is also so  nimble, narrow, and sleek that any comparison to  

elevated highways is a huge red flag for me that  someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

I used to live right next  to a modern elevated rail  

viaduct. I even had trains running  through the background of my videos.

There was no issue.

Meanwhile today, if my neighbour's dog literally  just barks, I have to stop recording and restart.

They're not a big deal.

Complaining about elevated rail is  like complaining that air doesn't  

have taste or that the sun makes things hot.

It's ridiculous.

Viaducts are also like anything.

Much like you could have an attractive tram  system or a less attractive tram system,  

you can have attractive and  rather unattractive viaducts.

A city with a penchant for good design is going to  

have attractive subways and  attractive elevated rail.

And elevated rail has an ability  to add a sort of dimensionality  

and layers to a city that nothing else really can.

And I personally find it really hard to  understand why someone in a city choked  

with traffic or filled with giant roads would find  an elevated rail viaduct any more unattractive.

At least the elevated train gets  you where you need to go quickly,  

with zero emissions and on the cheap.

Better yet, the things you can tuck away  underneath elevated rail are frankly limitless.

In Japan there's tiny homes. In cities in  Europe you'll so often see restaurants.

And in cities around the world  you'll see greenways and walkways  

under elevated rail which not only  provide shelter from the elements,  

but also let people walk, run, and roll  quickly, just as the trains above do.

In fact, you can even create public  spaces where people might be okay  

just resting for a moment under elevated  rail like with the Skyrail in Melbourne.

Naturally, by putting the trains above the  ground, you also create a very adaptable system.

You can add stations after the fact, pull  up cranes and trucks to do easy maintenance,

or even add new track work and connections  like with the Red Purple bypass in Chicago,  

all while keeping trains easily running.

It's also a lot easier to expand  and improve an elevated station.

Adding escalators, elevators and new  entrances just means building off of  

that existing building as opposed  to digging new holes in the ground.

If transit oriented development is your  thing, cities like Bangkok, Delhi and Tokyo  

show how you can use sky bridges to directly link  destinations with the train stations people used,

creating development that isn't just transit  oriented, but tied in directly with the transit.

It's also probably worth mentioning that in  low lying cities like Bangkok or Vancouver or  

Amsterdam, having rail that's elevated above  ground can provide some flood protection.

Now, on my channel I talk a lot about  the construction cost crisis in so much  

of the world and how long it takes  to get big infrastructure built,

and this has gotta be one of the  biggest strengths of elevated rail.

Not only is it super functional, easy to maintain,  

and easy to upgrade and expand, but it's  also quick and inexpensive to build.

If you've ever lived in a place where they  were building a modern elevated rail line,  

be it a metro in a city or a high speed  rail line through the countryside,  

you'll know that a modern viaduct can  be built with assembly line efficiency.

And since two train tracks are  narrow and the pillars needed to  

support an elevated guideway with  two tracks are even more narrow,

you can also fit high capacity elevated  rail lines almost anywhere from the  

middle of the street to across  existing railways and roadways.

Even along an existing single track  industrial rail siding, you have  

enough room to put in pillars that can carry  a double track high capacity electric railway.

And the stations are cheaper  and faster to build as well.

Since you don't have to go underground,  there's a lot more standardization possible.

Essentially you're just building a  building around the elevated rail viaduct.

This is why you see so much elevated  rail in places like China and India.

It's faster and less expensive to catch up  and create a big metro system really quickly.

There's almost never a more efficient way in  a dense urban environment than going above.

For cities in North America, which are sprawled,  

filled with large roads and highways and parking  lots, elevated rail is so obviously the answer.

The reason Vancouver is able to have  such a modern, large metro system,  

one that trades blows with the  largest cities on the continent,

is because it went above ground and used  existing right of ways to create a large system.

And that thinking has spread  to other cities like Honolulu,  

Seattle, and San Diego which have  started to realize the same things.

And I think other cities will as well.

When you're growing fast, have  tons of car infrastructure and  

little money to spend on public transit,  going above ground is an obvious choice.

And unlike the light rail systems that were  so often built over the last several decades,  

when you go above the streets you can go  much faster than traffic on those streets.

It's a big reason why I think the Skytrain  in Vancouver blows the Portland light rail  

system out of the water in terms of the  number of people that actually use it,  

even when Portland's system is larger.

It's just so much faster.

Ultimately, while this video won't  stop these select urbanists who  

like to complain that elevated rail is  unnatural, imposing or even anti urban,  

what I hope it does do is highlight to  you why it's such a great technology.

Our cities aren't necessarily natural things.

Their greatness comes from what they enable:

Affordability, bringing people  together and great ideas.

And elevated rail is fantastic  infrastructure for that.

Now, you’ve seen a lot of elevated  rail from Australia in this video,  

with Melbourne’s beautiful SkyRail  being one of my favourite urban  

transit transformation projects in the  world - stay tuned for a video on that.

But what you might have missed is  a video I did on all of Australia’s  

funky rail gauges last year and  how the weird standards came to be,

which you can watch exclusively  on Nebula right now.

Nebula is the streaming platform  owned by me and my creator friends,  

featuring over 14 thousand titles  that you can watch ad-free,

including exclusive and early access videos  from urbanist creators like myself, Citynerd,  

City Beautiful, Life Where  I’m from, and Not Just Bikes.

We also now have a News division and a film  studio, where some of the very best content  

creators are creating excellent large scale  projects you won’t be able to find anywhere else,

such as The Getaway - a really exciting Nebula  original series from the creators of Jet Lag the  

Game where 6 different creators go on a road  trip full of exciting games and competitions.

Watching my channel on Nebula  is one of the best ways you  

can support my channel and my content as a whole,

and as of now, lifetime memberships are back  indefinitely for only $300 so you can pay once,  

and get Nebula for as long  as both you and Nebula exist,

so Nebula can fund bigger  projects in the near future.

And if lifetime memberships  are not your cup of tea,  

you can still support me for only $36 a  year or $3 a month with our annual plans;

we’re also now offering annual gift cards,  

so you can share my Nebula exclusive  videos with your friends and family too.

So go check out nebula at go.nebula.tv/rmtransit  

right now!