Boston's Underground Bus : WEIRD Public Transportation that’s not a Subway (Silver Line “BRT”)

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The Silver Line of the MBTA is very unique in that upon entering the station and going through the turnstile, there is level which is served underground, but by buses. The Silver Line “Bus Rapid Transit” (“BRT”) is a trolley bus on rubber wheels that runs on electric power, and has a dedicated bus-way from the Boston South Station to Silver Line Way.
Recorded February 3, 2021
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Пікірлер: 1 300

@aldrichmendes5351 3 жыл бұрын

What’s unique about the silver line is while it’s underground, it’s powered off of overhead catenary at 480v. Once it hits the surface, it switches to diesel. Essentially making it a hybrid form of transportation.

@padellina9596 3 жыл бұрын

That’s what I remember from my ride on this bus, few years back. What was even more bizarre, the driver didn’t even get out when he was switching to and from the trolley. Just pressed the button and voilà - you are entering the tunnel as a trolley bus!

@lovedfriend2020 3 жыл бұрын

I was just gonna ask that.

@trentr9762 3 жыл бұрын

Not unique. Europe has trains that turn to trams and then busses

@jamesnotfound 3 жыл бұрын

@@trentr9762 no one said it was unique. Try reading next time before try to act rude.

@tgm9991 3 жыл бұрын

@@jamesnotfound The op did say it was unique it is you that needs to learn to read.

@andrecito0410 3 жыл бұрын

Everyone: omg this is so weird Us from Mass.: Hey, that's the Airport Train!

@christian7096 3 жыл бұрын

For me , this is the bus I rather take to Boston instead of the 111 :)

@genderfluidsneutral4591 3 жыл бұрын

you call a bus a train? I call it the land boat

@uFreakMeowt 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah!

@2023-Sucked 3 жыл бұрын

Yep, pretty normal

@kishascape 3 жыл бұрын

You should see the rail-like busses in Europe. They drive over 2 narrow strips of concrete laid out similar to railroads with guide wheels in the front edges to keep the bus centered so you don’t have to steer. It’s pretty cool.

@WalkRideFly 3 жыл бұрын

I never knew such a system existed. This is cool!

@joshturner8322 3 жыл бұрын

Brisbane in Australia also has a sizeable BRT system with underground stations and tunnels

@LaKellita 3 жыл бұрын

Try riding it before declaring it cool.

@sostdm617 3 жыл бұрын

Yes you have to check out the silver line from south station when you come here welcome to Boston

@gossettcd 3 жыл бұрын

@@LaKellita I stayed at the Airport Hilton, for a work conference, a few years ago and took the Silver 1 everyday. It was cool.

@xtroid2k 3 жыл бұрын

I take this bus daily! I love the trip

@jmalerbaboss 3 жыл бұрын

who realized he got on an sl2 bus instead of sl3 😂

@JSGRanks 3 жыл бұрын

ikr!

@c182SkylaneRG 3 жыл бұрын

I saw that! And then read the 6 mph speed limit sign as 60 mph. :D

@mrjarichard 3 жыл бұрын

He also said SL3 to Design Center... SL3 goes to Chelsea, SL2 to Design Center, so he was on the right bus, just said the number wrong.

@Northeast_trains 2 жыл бұрын

I noticed that

@kei2142 3 жыл бұрын

It's like they run out of money for the tracks

@TonyW79SFV 3 жыл бұрын

That's pretty much the story with transit construction in the U.S. MBTA's Silver Line BRT was conceived as a cheaper replacement for the old MBTA Orange Line elevated (I forget which section). The Silver Line, due to being a bus, is Boston's only direct rapid transit Line between downtown & Logan Airport. As for BRT in other U.S. cities, Houston recently opened a line on Westheimer which originally was to be light rail until funding got cut. In NYC, the SelectBusService is one form of BRT put together to provide near-term solutions when long-term solutions, like the 2 Avenue Subway takes forever to build.

@tipsythefedora 3 жыл бұрын

@@TonyW79SFV It was making up for the fact that when The Orange Line el was eliminated it took away basically all the stops in Roxbury. Specifically what was Dudley Square(now Nubian Square).(also you can get the blue line downtown at State St. to get to the airport but maybe you mean right to the terminals...)

@TonyW79SFV 3 жыл бұрын

@@tipsythefedora the Blue Line requires a connection to a shuttle bus to Logan.

@tipsythefedora 3 жыл бұрын

@@TonyW79SFV I’m probably just misunderstanding you..Are you saying there is a connection between the subway and the bus to the airport? Because that’s not the case. As you exit Airport Station on the Blue Line you board a bus that takes you directly to the airport terminals and car rental center. Apologies if I’m just repeating you but saying it different.

@keithdennis9600 3 жыл бұрын

basically! if memory serves the silver line was initially supposed to be an extension of the green line (light rail trolley system) in lieu of the lack of service to Roxbury (previously mentioned axing of the old Orange Line El) , but due to budget (STILL being in debt from The Big Dig) it became a bus rather than rail

@Jeff-lj6xx 3 жыл бұрын

You actually happened to board one of the few battery buses in the silver line fleet. Usually they need to stop at Silver Line way and change power sources from electric overhead wires (like they use in Harvard Square) to diesel mode.

@shawnwatson2shawnwat 3 жыл бұрын

The Silver Line and the trackless trolleys of Cambridge are two totally different and distinct lines.

@Jeff-lj6xx 3 жыл бұрын

@@shawnwatson2shawnwat Correct. When I mentioned “like they use in Harvard” I was referring to the vehicle’s source of of power being conducted from electricity via the overhead wires, not the vehicles or routes themselves.

@DDELE7 3 жыл бұрын

The Dual Mode diesel/electric Silver Line fleet is showing its age. I personally think the T should invest in battery powered buses that could simply recharge from the existing overhead wires in the busway tunnel. Then you wouldn’t need to build off-site recharging stations for future electric buses.

@coyotelong4349 3 жыл бұрын

I was gonna say, these HAVE to be electric buses to be running underground like this

@imanchantel226 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, the silver line does this in seaport center before going to the airport for example.

@jlei9284 3 жыл бұрын

The silver line bus goes rattle, rattle, rattle, all through the town!😆

@6or1 3 жыл бұрын

This thing have square wheels, or what?

@PaulFisher 3 жыл бұрын

@@6or1 if it has square wheels they would probably line up better with the degraded concrete!

@TheCriminalViolin 3 жыл бұрын

Not remotely as rough or loud as TriMet's old Flxible Metros (Grumman 850s) I miss those damn buses so much! haha. So incredibly rough and rowdy, louder than a concert front row sometimes, but damn did I love those suckers! This bus and route is akin to the levels of roughness & loudness of TriMet's 2500-2800 New Flyer D40LF buses that are between 21 & 16 years old.

@TheCriminalViolin 3 жыл бұрын

@harry # Like every major transit agency in this country, they go with the cheapest options and materials possible to cost-cut. It's terrible and sad as hell as a transit nut myself, but it's just our reality we're forced to live with.

@alexanderip1003 3 жыл бұрын

Ugggghhhhhhhh!!! I Hated this song

@guardian860 3 жыл бұрын

they should add this to "Mass Transit" DLC.

@ITechnologyman 3 жыл бұрын

It’s doable

@jacobg492 3 жыл бұрын

You can... just have the busses drive on bus roads underground. But the stations would have to be above ground of course.

@punishedpinecone4772 3 жыл бұрын

You can already do this, just get Move It and lower the nodes then plop down some walls and stuff

@Octopaeus 3 жыл бұрын

You can use sunken road to build this too.

@punishedpinecone4772 3 жыл бұрын

You wouldn't even have to make the stations above ground, just technically above the ground level

@BrianWebb0222 3 жыл бұрын

Seattle had a system similar to this - where the busses ran through downtown in the "bus tunnel." But the tunnel belonged to the agency that was building out the light rail for the Seattle area. After light rail service began, trains and busses both shared the tunnel until just a few years ago, when the busses were shifted back to the streets above on dedicated transit only lanes.

@dangelohartley5977 3 жыл бұрын

Does King County Metro and Sound Transit buses still uses the tunnel?

@willy.william4582 3 жыл бұрын

@@dangelohartley5977 No, light rail only. Seattle Transit Tunnel is officaly what it is called.

@dangelohartley5977 3 жыл бұрын

@@willy.william4582 When did buses no longer uses the tunnel?

@anthonybanchero3072 3 жыл бұрын

@@dangelohartley5977 I think 2019.

@willy.william4582 3 жыл бұрын

@@dangelohartley5977 March 23rd, 2019

@MTM358 3 жыл бұрын

When it was constructed and I lived in Boston still everyone called it the "Silver Lie" because the MBTA put it on the subway map as if it were a new rail line. Oh, and the two branches literally didn't connect yet.

@carlosrubio7589 3 жыл бұрын

Max T-M ; There are three lines (branches ?) SL1, SL2, SL3. Silver Line #3 goes to Chelsea by tunnel.

@alexdelta57 3 жыл бұрын

@@carlosrubio7589 5* - The SL4 and SL5, which stay above ground with dedicated lanes but travel down Washington street.

@aodhganmerrimac 3 жыл бұрын

The Silver Lie was sold to Bostonians as BRT yet nearly all the line meets none of the major criteria of BRT. "A 2011 study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) determined that the Silver Line was best classified as 'Not BRT' because it lacked many of these BRT Standard features." The section you rode on in the South Boston Transitway. That small section of tunnel was the only part of the original line which meets most BRT standards. Had you rode it at afternoon rush hour, pre-pandemic you would have seen serious over crowding. Passengers often have to wait for three to five vehicles before they can board inbound, It's often quicker to walk to the South Station from the South Boston Waterfront. The original fleet on this side of the line is hybrid running off overhead catenary in the SB Transitway. The very overdue new fleet is battery assisted I believe. Yes, the ride compares very poorly with steel wheeled traction. The other side of the line which is not connected, is all street running with no catenary, but dedicated lanes & small kiosk waiting shelters on much of Washington St., that half of the line replaced an elevated RTL line (the original RTL Line of the Boston system). It was billed as a way to connect that neighborhood to the waterfront & the jobs that would be created when that area was built out, but they have never connected the two sections. The South End section drops passengers off on the street level across the street from The South Station. The line should have been a streetcar line integrated with the Green Line via the abandoned trolley tunnel under Boylston St. that would have allowed a single seat ride from Forest Hills to the city Chelsea via the SB Waterfront & Logan airport with cross platform connections to all branches of the Green Line trolley system. When the South Boston Waterfront is finally built out the Silver Lie will be completely overwhelmed. You mentioned the tunnel width, had it been built as a streetcar line the tunnels could have actually been smaller with associated cost saving I'm sure. The company that made the original fleet was actually bankrupted by the order & fixes required IIRC. Also a direct link to the Williams Tunnel doesn't exist which would shorten the trip time to Logan. All in all, it's the worst part of the Greater Boston system in my opinion.

@teeceedeecee 3 жыл бұрын

My question is is it worse than a regular bus route, or is it worse than what it should be? In other words, should they have built what they could with what they had or just left it all alone?

@aodhganmerrimac 3 жыл бұрын

@@teeceedeecee Comparing it to a regular route is not clear cut. It depends greatly on the streets the route travels on &c. It should have been light rail from day one. The public was essentially told it was comparable to light rail.

@Anon21486 3 жыл бұрын

As a Chelsea resident, we are lucky to have 3 major bus routes, 2 minor bus route, the Commuter Rail, and the Silver Line. For the purpose of this convo though, my answer is.... it depends.... Here is what I mean. Comparing the MBTA Bus Route 111, 116, and 117 with SL3 is dependent on where the route goes. Pre-covid, the 111 would constantly hit traffic on the Tobin and North Washington Bridge. Not only that but traffic on Chelsea's Broadway would cause busses to back up, sometimes having multiple 111 lined up in a row. For the 116 and 117, they not only had to deal with traffic on Broadway in Revere and Chelsea but also Meridian Street in East Boston as well as Rt 1A/Bell Circle in Revere. The 116 & 117 also have an issue that is out of their control, a drawbridge. Yup, the drawbridge gives right of way for boats so it can be in the middle or rush hour and access across the Chelsea River could be closed for 15+ minutes. You know who also has issues with a drawbridge... the SL3. Yup, the Silver Line is slowed down by the very same thing that slows down the 116/117. So much so that the MBTA themselves stated that the drawbridge is preventing ridership from increasing on the SL3. As for traffic, the only major traffic issue is within the Ted Williams Tunnel. The last issue I can think of is pricing. Although the Silver Line has the same fare as the Subway system and follows the same rules with that pricing, there is no free transfer between the Silver Line and Airport Station. Of course, you may be looking for stats so let me give you some. These are from my personal experience though from my given area. To make things simpler, all of these will be based on Bellingham Square to Boston during pre-covid peak rush hours, with drawbridge open to vehicular traffic. (111 - Haymarket, 116/117 - Maverick, SL3 - South Station) 111 - 35-45 minutes 116/117 - 20-25 minutes SL3 - 40-60 minutes

@javianjohnson8746 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, I've NEVER, EVER heard of an underground bus that acts as a subway. Thank you for making this video and educating the masses on this, its pretty unique

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

The Silver Line can access the existing road infrastructure after the “SIlver Line Way” station. For example to the airport via the Interstate 90 tunnel. There was not foresight enough or funding provided to do what should have been a part of the “Big Dig” which was to build an FRA compatible rail line from South Station to the airport.

@franciscoapr5007 3 жыл бұрын

It's a mixture between subway, trolleybus and bus, it's weird but it's very practical. Love it!

@crazeyjoe 3 жыл бұрын

One fun fact about Boston. The "Boston Cream Pie" (technically a cake) was invented at the (Omni) Parker House Hotel Restaurant (located at 60 School St) in 1881!

@ActionKid 3 жыл бұрын

Cool fact!

@zacharythomason7359 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome fact Thanks for that fact. Didn't know that.

@shawnwatson2shawnwat 3 жыл бұрын

I'm from Boston. It's a pie.

@crazeyjoe 3 жыл бұрын

@@shawnwatson2shawnwat The History of Boston Cream Pie... Why is it called pie when it is a cake? That is the million-dollar question! Apparently, back in the mid-1800s when it was invented, pie plates were the most common cooking vessel. These cakes were originally baked in pie plates, and thus called "pie." So, while it is referred to as a "pie" it is actually a version of a yellow butter cake.

@shawnwatson2shawnwat 3 жыл бұрын

@@crazeyjoe I appreciate what you said, however, go in any bakery, supermarket. It's a pie.

@Modeltnick 3 жыл бұрын

Love the MBTA. So easy to get around Boston on the T. The Sulverline can run on electric or diesel, depending on where the overhead wires are available. I’ve been on this and you can hear them toggle between the two. My favorite is the Green line C branch.

@NortheastCorridorFilms 3 жыл бұрын

Finally somebody that loves MBTA. It is full of pride!

@Modeltnick 3 жыл бұрын

@@NortheastCorridorFilms Thanks for your response. First thing I do when I get to Boston is get a “Charlie Card”!

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

It’s always fun to watch a New Yorker react to life in the outside world.

@varshneydevansh 3 жыл бұрын

This is a good comment

@Laluan 3 жыл бұрын

It’s not even outside America lol

@joebruce4826 3 жыл бұрын

Boston is weird AF

@Topgear2006 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah this is still inside America buddy.

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

@@Topgear2006 New Yorkers rarely go west of the Hudson.

@menguardingtheirownwallets6791 3 жыл бұрын

There are 'road grinders' that are used to flatten out the 'waves' in washboard-like road surfaces, similar to the surface that bus is vibrating over.

@jezeniawarmsley6709 3 жыл бұрын

As a person who was born and raised in Boston I love that this surprises people!

@christansnaggy3450 2 жыл бұрын

I was born and raised in Boston and I never knew Boston would be this high to make that 😂😂like u can just take the blue line

@AquieoAndreBR 3 жыл бұрын

When my brother lived in Boston I used to take this bus to go to the airport, he used to work very near the south station. So many memories.

@BunnyfriendMX 3 жыл бұрын

Guadalajara had a very similar trolleybus system that was partially underground, operating from late seventies to late eighties when it was replaced by light rail trains. It used old Chicago's Marmon-Herrington trolleybuses slightly revamped to make them fit in the somewhat tight tunnel (which actually was intended for a metro system). You can find more info about the system, which was a partial-BRT since it ran from the tunnel into main avenues of Guadalajara, in Tom's North American Trolley Bus Pictures webpage.

@carlitoperez528 3 жыл бұрын

Boston is another level to be honest

@lchaney 3 жыл бұрын

Another level of what?

@MarksCar-rs1nm 3 жыл бұрын

I’m not ruining 69 likes

@markocroatia7630 3 жыл бұрын

@@lchaney Of Public Transport Sevices?

@wuhanclan 3 жыл бұрын

No it's not. It's pretty awful.

@wturner777 3 жыл бұрын

@@wuhanclan I must say it's better than not having a transit system at all. Other parts of the country don't even have a bus system at all. I'm from a small Florida town in the Panhandle and we're not as developed as the other side of Florida where the biggest cities are. The biggest cities in the Panhandle are Pensacola and Tallahassee, which also have transit systems, but nothing like the big leagues.

@chickenpommes19 3 жыл бұрын

Essen, Germany used to have something like this in the 90s, Duo-Bus, guided-wheel trolley/diesel buses running on wooden planks in subway tunnels together with trams/light rail. Definitely a weird system

@Joschimon 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, and they frequently had issues with the overhead wires in the tunnels and had to turn on the Diesel engine in the tunnel... That's why they stopped this experiment.

@patriciastein3627 3 жыл бұрын

I live in Michigan . We are in the stone age. This is fantastic the different types of transportation. LOOKS clean too. Just cause people live in the MOTOR CITY they think everyone has a car. Michigan has been talking about mass transit since I was a child. I am a baby boomer. We do have bus service but does NOT go everywhere. DIRTY I could say more I will leave that to your imagination.!!!!!

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

You have the PeopleMover!

@BluePhoenix2013 3 жыл бұрын

Used to live in Detroit, you're right

@BluePhoenix2013 3 жыл бұрын

@@erik_griswold true but only served downtown

@LadyJay114 3 жыл бұрын

I heard about this. One of the reasons for Detroit's abysmal unemployment rate is because the city doesn't have reliable public transit. If you don't have a car you can't get to work.

@zaybx3485 3 жыл бұрын

They got the Q line light rail

@s89hblr 3 жыл бұрын

ActionKids, actually subway T stations like South Station has few free transfer between subways and Silver Line. I taken Japanese guest to Boston few years ago.

@derekinhawaii 3 жыл бұрын

It's only free when you travel Inbound to Bosotn from Logan Airport and South Station.

@jimaustin7957 3 жыл бұрын

WOW! I'm totally intrigued with Boston's underground bus system. That's awesome! And I'm used to seeing buses above ground in several big cities, including where I live at.

@claytammaro7060 3 жыл бұрын

I’m proud to say I worked on the “bus” tunnels when they were being constructed. At the turn around at south station, glad you enjoyed your ride.

@kesschristopher 3 жыл бұрын

It sure doesn’t seem to travel far without going back into mixed traffic

@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 3 жыл бұрын

It does, but the parts above ground also have dedicated bus lanes. The part that goes underground lets the bus skip some of the busiest streets in the city, so its worthwhile :)

@jenjonez 3 жыл бұрын

I think it was actually made so that once on street level there is a designated lane to move through the city quicker also combined with the bike lane.

@rbdagoat2000 3 жыл бұрын

I didn’t even know underground buses existed. This was definitely interesting

@lovelyheiferdev 3 жыл бұрын

It's run on electricity (catenary wires) underground and diesel when above ground.

@hairyairey 3 жыл бұрын

Arguably the paris metro is an underground bus as it has rubber tyres

@queendee8656 3 жыл бұрын

Very weird to me never knew they existed thank you for this I’m from Rhode Island🏙🌊🙋🏼‍♀️

@ActionKid 3 жыл бұрын

First time I've ever seen this.

@marisolsanchez3088 3 жыл бұрын

Me too😅 I live in Rhode Island as well

@peskypigeonx 3 жыл бұрын

@@marisolsanchez3088 Cool, and I’m a NYC pigeon

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

Providence used to have an Electric Trolley bus system too. It used the tunnel that goes up to Brown University.

@paxhumana2015 3 жыл бұрын

@@ActionKid , are you from New York City? Which borough do you live in, out of curiosity?

@AleksanderJBL 3 жыл бұрын

Love the Boston walks. The city's so much different from NY.

@wadebraxton8597 3 жыл бұрын

It's clean!

@philboudreaux9888 3 жыл бұрын

Fung Wah bus once went from NYC to South Station for 5 bucks.... had to always make sure you life insurance policy was paid because your life was in danger riding that bus. Fung Wah miss those days

@jackgrimaldi8685 3 жыл бұрын

Fung Wah was freaking awesome! The poor man's connection between Boston and NYC. Stupid feds ruin everything, they ran them out of business and they were never able to rebuild again. Who cares if your bus catches fire in Connecticut? For 5$ I'll take my chances.

@qjtvaddict 3 жыл бұрын

@@jackgrimaldi8685 greyhound cut the fares and they came back under different names anyway

@BrettCook 3 жыл бұрын

It looked like it was incredibly bumpy and noisy! Surprised that it didn't have a better surface being a dedicated lane.

@Adorablenerd295 3 жыл бұрын

I love Boston! Welcome to my city

@YungMerkel 3 жыл бұрын

A nice city, but look to all european Cities how looks normal transportation.

@TheMacGuy2 3 жыл бұрын

Seattle had a trolley/diesel or gas route between its airport and downtown underground similar to this. The electric propulsion worked as the bus got off the interstate and into the underground part. It was electric powered. The Boston system could be upgraded into a rail system, and its a start. Very interesting video! Thanks for producing and narrating it!

@emiliopacheco8056 3 жыл бұрын

My city (Guadalajara, Mexico) used to have a similar system back in the 70's and 80's, there was s Trolleybus line that traveled through it's own tunnels and had underground stations, but then in 1989 they substituted the trolleybuses for a Light rail system and that was the end of underground buses on my city. Cool video btw.

@lvdawnll8166 3 жыл бұрын

I never knew there were underground buses!

@french1956 3 жыл бұрын

Seattle had them for decades.

@samanli-tw3id 3 жыл бұрын

How do they cope with the exhaust gases.

@DDELE7 3 жыл бұрын

@@samanli-tw3id that’s why they use electric buses in the tunnel. You then can avoid the cost of building expensive tunnel ventilation systems. The tunnel was built in conjunction with the Boston Big Dig project.

@erik_griswold 3 жыл бұрын

Harvard Square station also has a similar tunnel.

@hacker-tx2uw 3 жыл бұрын

i bet u never knew u have a lil bro thanks to me n ur mom lol get owned

@AjbWhaYT 3 жыл бұрын

I've been to Seattle before, I saw buses underground in the tunnels similar to Boston

@seamusrichard 3 жыл бұрын

It closed in march of 2019 now only light rail trains use it

@GobreadGilfredBiago666 3 жыл бұрын

The silver line was actually intended to be an extension of the light rail system (green line) but the city was in massive debt at the time and was unable to fully complete the build, thus the reason for changing it into an underground bus system, which was much cheaper but still connected Roxbury and Seaport to downtown.

@GobreadGilfredBiago666 3 жыл бұрын

But, like everything the MBTA does, they’re starting to realize that their cheap choice resulted in thousands of dollars wasted in upkeep

@amfm889 3 жыл бұрын

The Silver Line tunnel is actually designed to the same dimensions as the Green Line (light rail), with the idea that it could upgraded to light rail. That'll never happen. It was built as a compromise to build transit to the Seaport District, but on the cheap. That bus ride has been a bumpy one since the day it opened!

@zombienic 3 жыл бұрын

Bumpy for sure but I love unique ways to travel! Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your trip!

@ActionKid 3 жыл бұрын

Haha, very bumpy!

@hpowlman9114 3 жыл бұрын

In CT we have fast track it’s like a highway only for the buses and emergency services

@24sweetroller7 3 жыл бұрын

This is something I did not know about in the Boston transit system. I knew about the traditional trolley coach system that was part of the old MTA for many years, and a small part of that system exists in Cambridge and Watertown. My last visit to the Boston area was in 2003. I have seen a couple of videos about their latest addition, The Silver Line, but have not seen it in action until seeing your video. This was a good introduction and I do hope to ride on it in the future. The idea of hybrid buses dates back to the early 1930's and '40's when Public Service Coordinated Transport in Newark, New Jersey had motor buses that ran as trackless trolleys. If you're interested, you can find out more on wikipedia, or in the book The Trolley Coach in North America by Mac Sebree and Paul Ward. There's another book, The Trackless Trolleys of Boston by Bradley Clarke. It was published by the Boston Street Railway Association. I don't know if it's still in print or not, but if you ask the folks at BSRA, they'll be happy to help. Thanks for the ride and the info about the Silver Line. See you again sometime.

@paulquilter3481 3 жыл бұрын

Here in the U.K., which where I have just been watching the video, there is just one slightly similar version of the Boston bus. It runs from Luton to Dunstable (Luton is about 25 miles north of London). Unlike the Boston version, it does not go underground, but the bus is guided in what I think is a similar way to the underground section of the Boston bus. Over the past twelve months or so, having been in almost permanent lockdown (I live in Leicester, which is the most locked down city in the country), I have enjoyed exploring first of all New York, and more recently other areas through the walks you have put on the net. It has helped keep me reasonably sane, and I thank you for that. I look forward to watching more of your Boston videos.

@pghrpg4065 3 жыл бұрын

In Pittsburgh, our light rail (also called the T) shares a tunnel with the buses but only to get under Mt. Washington. Otherwise, the buses stay on the roads and busways. The T goes back underground once it crosses the Monongahela River. Anyway, it's nice that the Silver Line bus gets to be out of mixed traffic for any amount of time.

@graffmixer 3 жыл бұрын

WELCOME TO BOSTON....Glad to see you in my home city!!!

@NortheastCorridorFilms 3 жыл бұрын

Massachusetts gang Get in the caw!

@Pisces-1978 3 жыл бұрын

Born + raised in South Boston, a stone's throw from South Station + our "underground bus". Gotta say I love the reaction from people! I know nothing but this as public transit. Good vid ☘

@junesilvermanb2979 Жыл бұрын

The Silver Line routes are among the most frequent MBTA bus routes. All routes (except for the SLW shuttle) run at least every 15 minutes during all service hours, save for late evening and weekend service on the SL4. At peak hours, combined frequency on the trunk sections is about 30 buses per hour (2 minute headways) in each direction in the Transitway, and 12 buses per hour (5 minute headways) on Washington Street. The routes have high ridership (though lower than many key bus routes) and low costs per rider compared to other bus routes in the MBTA system. In 2012, three routes (SL1, SL5, SLW) were the only MBTA bus routes to show a profit; the median net cost (after fares) on all MBTA bus routes was $2.13 per passenger. In 2019, combined weekday ridership on Silver Line routes was 39,000. In addition to the public route name, the Silver Line and crosstown routes have internal route numbers in the 700 series. The SL5 is designated 749 after the 49 bus it replaced, while the other routes have similar numbers.

@antipyrene 3 жыл бұрын

This in the newest part of T, serving an area that 30 years ago was mostly abandoned warehouses and parking lots

@cszal 3 жыл бұрын

I found this underground bus system very odd! Much love ActionKid from Northeast Philly!

@ActionKid 3 жыл бұрын

Very odd indeed!

@cherylpersons3241 3 жыл бұрын

@actionkid they do that in Seattle Washington too . Boston probably got that from them the bus drives side by side to the trains they go underground too

@user-dp8ep8qf1m 3 жыл бұрын

I think they had to do this because when the silver line gets to the airport. It’s stops at every terminal I think there wasn’t enough space to do a whole subway line. Also the point of it being underground is so that people trying to catch flights don’t have to deal with normal traffic.

@aodhganmerrimac 3 жыл бұрын

@@user-dp8ep8qf1m It dead ends travelers at South Station, so a single seat ride anywhere is all but impossible. Originally a spur off the red Line was contemplated, but rejected.

@user-dp8ep8qf1m 3 жыл бұрын

@@aodhganmerrimac true

@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 3 жыл бұрын

It was fun to see you excited to experience the SL- I used to take it to work every day so it never occurred to me that other places don't have underground buses! You didn't see this on the video, but some buses are both electric (when underground) and diesel powered- the bus has to stop and switch between the two on it's route. Very cool- until the switch breaks down on a cold morning on your way to work haha. Thanks for coming to Boston!

@erikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 3 жыл бұрын

Oh and I should have said- the MBTA also runs ferries like NYC! Though they mainly serve smaller, outer islands or towns so they aren't used by high volumes of people.

@LukeMarcheski865 3 жыл бұрын

I grew up across the street from the World Trade Center stop and remember when it first opened. There is even a glimpse of my old apartment building at the intersection before Silver Line Way. Everyone was so excited about it. I've always thought of it as new but never different, this video really gave me perspective about something right in my back yard!

@Patzi2447 3 жыл бұрын

Never knew they had under ground busses 🚌. Thanks 🤩

@gamereric2189 3 жыл бұрын

I live here, and take it ALL the time to world trade center, so I know a thing or 2 about it! The speed limit in the tunnels is set to 10 MPH for whatever reason, so its definitely slow. Its always uncomfortably bumpy, and always fun to sit across from the seat in the articulated area of the bus. When I tell you that seat in the bendy part shakes, I mean it. Otherwise, its pretty nice, though the bunching is oftentimes a pain in the butt. You'll wait 10+ minutes for a bus, and then 2 if not 3 busses show up all at one time.

@Buc_Stops_Here 3 жыл бұрын

I used to live in Boston back in the 1990s. This came in 2002, a few years after I left. It was cheaper than putting in another rail line - the last being the extension of the red line past Cambridge in 1976. There were huge delays in the last red line subway extension as they argued over where the train would go as well as how many stops would be built. This bus goes to diesel above ground so it does generate a lot of pollution. Thanks for sharing.

@PanduPoluan 3 жыл бұрын

There are some benefits for "Rubber-tyred BRT Metro": (1) Ability to go hybrid/dual mode if needed, (2) Smaller tunnels, (3) Easier to add/remove capacity, (4) Can handle steeper grades, (5) Can handle tighter turns Of course there are drawbacks as well. Basically, like all engineering, it's a question of trade-offs.

@questionmark3219 3 жыл бұрын

This "T"-Sign looks like the Subway symbol of the Stockholm Metro.

@MIKEJ788 3 жыл бұрын

Stockholm Metro? Hmm . Gotta Check It Out

@jamesnotfound 3 жыл бұрын

It is! The MTA (the MBTA’s predecessor) took that idea from the Stockholm metro.

@RealConstructor 3 жыл бұрын

That’s what it reminded me of! I had a feeling of recognition when I saw the T symbol, for Tunnelbana or T-bana. A good subway system, as I remembered from my citytrip to Stockholm, ten years ago. A beautiful city, by the way.

@lovelyheiferdev 3 жыл бұрын

It was taken from Stockholm. Since the design is universal and not copyrightable, we also decided to use it (albeit with a few tweaks).

@briangiannelli9842 3 жыл бұрын

That s where they got the idea from I've been told

@gpan62 3 жыл бұрын

I think Seattle also has underground buses. I think Toronto has underground streetcars. It keeps people out of the weather transferring to the metro and it keeps buses out if traffic. In some places there is the idea (maybe not in Boston) that in future it can be converted to a subway system.

@seqspottingandtravels9346 3 жыл бұрын

Here in Brisbane, Australia we also have a similar concept called the Busway. Parts of the bus lines are either underground or semi underground.

@chrisfr977 Жыл бұрын

Born and raised in Seattle our busses used to run underground in a 1.3 mile tube but they got kicked out of the tunnel to the surface streets so now only light road runs through the metro tunnel here and is metro town here in Seattle

@adam-g7crq 3 жыл бұрын

That's a brilliant idea, could do with something like that in London, Oxford Street is one of London's busiest retail streets and there talking about pedestrianising it underground tunnels would be the ideal solution for the buses. Thanks for showing us the silver line AK

@MichaelTavares 3 жыл бұрын

I think there are tube train tunnels directly under Oxford street aren’t there?

@haleyraven.lilrocket9241 3 жыл бұрын

Great video I love my city Boston have fun and absolutely love your videos action kid

@georgepartin1482 3 жыл бұрын

This is by far the most interesting thing I’ve learned recently!

@freednighthawk 3 жыл бұрын

Back when I lived in Seattle, they also had an underground bus tunnel. As far as I know, it's been discontinued because they are putting in light rail. I rode that system many a time. The cool thing was, the buses were dual power, so they'd come in from all around, running on diesel, and once they got to the mouth of the tunnel, they'd shut off the diesel, and connect pantographs, and run all electric through the tunnel. Even better, no fair was required to travel on the bus inside the tunnel, or downtown.

@jonlaguerre3163 3 жыл бұрын

That rattling on the bus is home a little annoying but overall I think that is cool that they have an underground bus I want to ride it someday.

@rogerpizarro8128 3 жыл бұрын

I ride the sliver line all the time and I've never heard or felt that rattling. I think it was just the bus.

@aodhganmerrimac 3 жыл бұрын

@@rogerpizarro8128 I ride it every day, it rattles, shakes & bounces!

@zioxei 3 жыл бұрын

shitty cheap bus. the seats have zero fabric on them

@mariosphere 3 жыл бұрын

I really hope one day they'll convert it into a light rail. It wouldn't be a big effort but a very big gain.

@aodhganmerrimac 3 жыл бұрын

@@mariosphere Me too, but I don't know if the new Chelsea section was designed to accommodate Green Line cars. It should be able to since trolleys need less space than buses in general.

@minnbeef 3 жыл бұрын

A new drinking game would be to drink every time you say “odd”.

@janjelinek4283 3 жыл бұрын

He said it as I was reading the comment lol.

@youtubehandlesareridiculous 3 жыл бұрын

@@janjelinek4283 how odd

@PreBCFan1 3 жыл бұрын

a deadly one

@seikibrian8641 3 жыл бұрын

We had a combined bus/light rail tunnel running under downtown Seattle for years. Even though it has rail using it, everyone just called it "the bus tunnel." For the last couple of years, though, it has been rail only.

@cltidball 3 жыл бұрын

Was just about to comment, this reminded me of the Seattle tunnel as well.

@hopjeremy 3 жыл бұрын

We visited Boston recently and stayed at a hotel in Chelsea. The Silver Line was great to get between the Airport and Downtown / Amtrak at South Station. The bus uses overhead power in the dedicated guideway sections and then uses liquid fuel on some of the sections above ground. Very interesting.

@jhostintola3092 3 жыл бұрын

We have it in Ecuador but its on the outside

@neeljavia2965 3 жыл бұрын

Same here in India.

@miltonwheeler8589 3 жыл бұрын

I love the silver line bus , its a connection from the other train line without walking outside to get ur next connection/destination its different form the normal but why does it have to be weird ? every city does things to stand out from the rest .

@arqiteq6172 2 жыл бұрын

Never thought the silver line was weird until I watched this vid. Funny seeing perspectives from residents of other places.

@VidNudistKid 3 жыл бұрын

I rode some of the Silver Line when I visited Boston in 2010. I was surprised to find a bus at the underground platform! We could really use some grade-separated busways in downtown Columbus. The regular buses and BRT can't move very fast when they have to negotiate traffic lights every 440 feet in addition to their passenger stops.

@Gonk 3 жыл бұрын

Never knew this existed, how cool. :)

@queendee8656 3 жыл бұрын

Facts💯💯💯

@DonnieDarko1 3 жыл бұрын

They're underground

@peebeme1506 3 жыл бұрын

Philly still have trollies & trolley buses too ( hey - whatever works , I’m all for it ) “city life”

@hanzheng8247 3 жыл бұрын

There was a similar bus tunnel in Downtown Seattle where buses shared lane with light rail, but that one has been converted to LRT only tunnels a few years ago.

@guspaz 3 жыл бұрын

Montreal's subway system does both: our subway trains (typically 9 cars long) have both rubber tires on concrete running pads (that carry the weight of the train) and steel wheels on rail (that serve as a backup in case of flats but don't normally bear any load).

@olgak.1139 3 жыл бұрын

l have Never read or saw something like that ,ever! A thought that became true ' Human creativity that serves the public in an alternative way! 👍👌✌

@trainzandplanes522 3 жыл бұрын

Xcelciors tend to rattle a lot, plus, that’s mostly all muni has these days. They are sometimes not smooth buses at all.

@PLefevre95 3 жыл бұрын

I have used the light rail -Green Line-more often than any of the others that are part of the system. The Silver line seems to be more of a hassle than it’s worth using when connecting to the South side of the City (Seaport District). Glad you featured Boston in your travels👋🏾

@kimlemerise5580 3 жыл бұрын

I live in Boston and was aware of the Silver Line,but didn't know this is how it runs..

@marynamurray9385 3 жыл бұрын

This is so unique and love it!

@jimsmoter4510 3 жыл бұрын

Is there some tyre of a track system they hook up to? he said something about the speed limit of 60mph. seems fast in a confined space without some kind of track system.

@j.c.p.4671 2 жыл бұрын

The "MBTA" also has boats to Hull, Massachusetts; Cape Cod; the Airport in East Boston; and North Shore of Massachusetts.

@isaac198428 3 жыл бұрын

I live in a suburb of Atlanta and didn’t know this was a thing. The only buses I’ve seen are usually outside of the train/subway station but not inside the building in the tunnels. Interesting stuff. I’ve gotta travel and see more of the world because my bubble appears to be limited in information about the outside world. Thanks for this!

@cathylee5840 3 жыл бұрын

Love the stream that is a weird transportation thanks AK stay safe stay well keep wsrm ⭐❄❄

@rosatruth7262 3 жыл бұрын

It’s similar like some such buses from special terminals in Madrid, Spain (europe)

@RaphTheUnknown 3 жыл бұрын

Often wondered many years back if buses and trains switched their places. Seeing this answers my question. Wonderful video.

@victornunezchanona5991 3 жыл бұрын

Wow thanks for sharing, i never imagined such bus system like that

@jhostintola3092 3 жыл бұрын

Weird and awesome great idea

@NewYorkWalker 3 жыл бұрын

Great video thanks for sharing

@robertdragoff6909 3 жыл бұрын

I left the Boston area on the early 1990’s. I used to ride the T when looking for work. Hope you ride the green line from down town to Riverside so I can see how that looks these days.

@dumontthe5th 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting concept, unique! I know of nothing like that in NYC! Perhaps the road surface of the tunnel sections needs to be redone for a smoother ride! I could feel the rough ride through the video! We do have buss right off way on the streets but cars still violate the space! I love these videos that show the different urban transit systems in America and the world! I've loved subways since I was a child! I had Lionel trains in the house but outside my window and down the block was the elevated subway, the IRT back in the day! I loved visiting family members in the other boroughs; that meant riding the trains and sometimes the buses and trolley buses in Brooklyn! Can't wait until we get this covid under control so I can visits Boston and ride the T!!

@ivancuervo777 3 жыл бұрын

When they switch to electric buses it will make a lot of sense

@andr_w 3 жыл бұрын

Forgot the ferries! (Also, poor Mattapan High-speed Line...always forgotten!)

@dafiltafish 3 жыл бұрын

Seattle used to have these too, only the tunnels were shared with the light rail making for really odd stations that had like, 4 lanes of traffic 20-50 feet underground.

@jnagarya519 3 жыл бұрын

Haven't been there for years, but Cambridge had buses that worked with overheard electrical wires. Sort of somewhere between bus and trolley.

@EphemeralProductions 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I'm from Seattle and they've had an underground bus thing like this also, since like 1990. I think they are now using it for light rail or have added tracks for it or something. Not sure, haven't lived there in some time.

@jacobmarzynski7719 3 жыл бұрын

Originally, that tunnel used dual-mode buses that switched to a diesel engine on the surface, just like Boston’s system today, but when it was converted to light rail, the tunnel started using battery assisted hybrids that still ran their engine in the tunnel at idle speed.

@french1956 3 жыл бұрын

@@jacobmarzynski7719 No buses underground in Seattle, all is now Link.

@yourlocalskoda4860 3 жыл бұрын

yeah, service ended in 2019 i think

@otakuman9576 3 жыл бұрын

Pretty interesting . Never seen anything like it.

@Moshavnik7272 3 жыл бұрын

This was definitely an odd ride. I was in Boston once and used the light rail but did not know about the silver line. Thanks for the video.

@JonathanFritz3757 3 жыл бұрын

The bus tunnel under the South Station looks like a trolley or light rail line. Cities usually will convert BRT to light rail LRT, after ridership goes up and additional funding is available (from what I have learned). You mentioned that you are not using the NYC Subway System, and you compared the bus tunnel to light rail. I noticed the similarities as well. You as a Bostonian (or former New York City resident) are very fortunate to live in a city with flexible transit options. There are a lot of us who would love to have the same opportunities; unfortunately, the era from 1930 to 1980 was the period when the Great Deconstruction of local transit lines and the pulling up of interstate railroad tracks took away our freedom to choose and grow. It's good to see the rebirth of alternative modes of travel to highways and roads return making a comeback in the 21st century. Your riding the bus through the South Station tunnel brought back my own personal memories of my trips on the NY subway trains during my summer vacations many moons ago. My favorite place to stand was in the first car and looking out the front window, next to the conductor's cab. And waiting for the trains on the platform on the elevated sections is an experience all its own.