Londoners baffled by New York Times article branding the Tube a 'wonderland' that 'runs like clockwork'

"Wonderland": Journalist Emma Fitzsimmons has praised the Tube
Emma Fitzsimmons/Twitter
Mark Chandler2 May 2017

London commuters have been left scratching their heads by an American article describing the Tube as a “wonderland” which runs "like clockwork”.

New York Times journalist Emma Fitzsimmons was dispatched to the capital to contrast her home city’s creaking subway system with London’s.

In the subsequent article, called “New York City Transit Reporter in Wonderland: Riding the London Tube”, she had almost nothing but praise for the Underground.

She wrote: “It was like being dropped into an alternate universe where people actually like their subway.

“On the upgraded Victoria line, subway riders used adjectives like “amazing” and “efficient” to describe service.

“A student told me he “very, very rarely” finds himself waiting on the platform, and trains were “almost always” on time.

“Every two minutes they pulled into the station like clockwork. I was a bit envious.”

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Although she acknowledged there were problems – the prices, strikes and overcrowding – the reporter was still bowled over by the differences to New York.

She wrote: “At Embankment Station near the Thames River, the crowds stuffed inside a train during the evening rush reminded me of a chaotic morning on the Lexington Avenue line in Manhattan.

“But there is a sense that Transport for London, the agency that runs the Tube, understands the problems and is working hard to fix them.”

She also observed a rite of passage among London's Tube users, writing: "Some riders were stunned to be approached by a nosy American reporter interrupting their peaceful commute. A local transit official told me eye contact was discouraged on the Tube. There are two appropriate places to focus your gaze: your neighbor’s shoes and the ceiling."

Not everyone was convinced her trip was representative of the London experience though, with many saying she should have tried a different line.

“Rubbish”, wrote one online commenter. “I've lived in London for two years now and the Tube is loathed universally."

In a reference to New York's F subway line, they added: “It comes more often than the F but every Londoner I know hates having to commute by it. And it stops at night. Please.”

Another complained: "Calling the London Tube a "Wonderland" is a bit of an exaggeration. Perhaps the (upgraded) Victoria line passengers are content, but did you talk to anyone on the Circle or District lines, for example?

“Also, did you happen to notice the system status boards near the turnstiles in the Tube stations? On any given day, there are often delays, sometimes severe, on one or more of the lines. At least the customers are forewarned....”

On social media, there was a mixed reaction. Ian Patterson wrote on Twitter: "NY Times takes an appreciative look at TfL's tube upgrades. They missed the Brown years.”

“Yeah, this has never happened,” wrote another about the Tube being described as amazing.

“The words used here are "sardine", "sweaty", "cancelled" and "delayed".”

But journalist Ian Dunt tweeted: “Lovely article from New York Times reminding Londoners that the Tube is actually pretty bloody marvellous.”

“Unless you have to use it in central London at rush hours, the Tube is a bona fide Wonder of the World,” agreed another tweeter.

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