@streetfrontier.bsky.social @indianurbanist.bsky.social

A lot of this is based on the land acquired for the station renovation. A lot of these works are merely facade work without much quality of life improvements around.
This way, all the land acquired can be used to make an actual change for this important arterial of the city.

- Separate bus bay allows multiple buses to stop without having to block the main road.
- Car drop off/pick up areas for the same.
- Lots of space for thousands of train users to get off MEMU/intercity trains and wait/take a bus or hail a cab.
- Reduced speeds in ped heavy areas

I'm super excited for Bengaluru's BSRP lines. Travel across the city 40% faster than the metro in sleek, modern trains and stations.
Getting across the city at avg of 40+ km/h is absolutely thrilling, especially when cars drive at a measly 17km/h in traffic. The future is bright!

Overall, the bones are super strong, and I'm really excited for CMRL to take over this system. It just needs to be brought into the 21st century. Integration with other modes will be key too.

Access from Chennai Central is a huge pain. Long walk with no shade protection, walking right along the Cooum river certainly has very interesting smells. No lifts and escalators to cross the tracks, only stairs. Poor signage after you cross the road from Central.

Some negatives too: This particular system is most definitely showing its age, old rakes, very poorly maintained stations, no access control, no lift access, no downward escalators.

INSANE BREEZE on the elevated viaducts since no AC. Crushing above traffic with the wind in my hair was such a beautiful feeling.
Guards were present next to the ladies' compartment to help commuters and ensure people enter the right class of travel acc to tickets bought

Some super positive points: Ticket checking inside the trains, some kids next to me we're deboarded and fined for travelling without a ticket within just one station of them boarding.
Generally, the seats and trains were clean (but definitely aged)

What blew my mind was the speed at which you can cover large-ish distances. I went 14km in 20 minutes, giving it an average speed of about 42km/h, which is about 30-40% higher than the average speed of most metro systems as a result of larger stop spacing.

Started in 1995 as the first elevated railway line in India, it is a unique mode of transport in a lot of ways. Elevated tracks for huge, broad gauge EMUs in a world full off standard gauge, sleek metro rakes.