Lots of people seem to compare London Underground unfavourably to other
countries transport systems.

Firstly the government has been reducing its investment for a long time
whilst other countries systems are heavily subsidised or have been privately
run many years. The big companies in the City who complain about loss do not
help to improve it with capital and neither does the Corporation of London.

Health and safety is very big in the U.K. and LondonUndergroud are subject
to many rules. This is partly its own fault having done so badly in the
past. Where you might see a cleaner with brush and bucket in London you are
more likely to see a cleaner driving a motorised vehicle on the Metro,
platforms included.

Those of you who were complaining about platforms being shut because of snow
should really compare the type of footwear being worn. Londoners seem to be
the least sensible.

In Thailand the monorail is clean and efficient but none of the locals use
it as the price of a ticket could get you a hotel room for two nights. It is
therefore only used by tourist and business execs.

In Las Vegas the buses run well but no one tells you that you should buy a
daily bus pass if you make more than two trips.

In Tokyo you can get a travelcard and then suddenly realise you are stuck at
the gateline and expected to pay more because you used a privately run
train.
If you use the shrinkansen you will be with the elite. Standard class is for
business execs, sumo wrestlers and tourists. Sumo wrestlers have to pay for
two seats for obvious reasons. 1st class is for movie stars and company
presidents.
Sticking with Japan I have been delayed on a few occasions one because of a
fight on the train ahead which subsequently made me feel homesick.
Also if a person does throw themselves in front of a train which seems to be
a regular experience in London. In Japan the family have to pay the clean up
cost. As they replace both rails and ballast it can be very expensive. Hence
very few suicides.