Cincinnati’s unused subway is a dream that won’t die
American history is rife with grandiose public works projects, some successful—like interstate highways—others less so, like that proposal to nuke a road through California’s mountains. Some wound up somewhere in purgatory; partially complete, with millions of dollars spent and many more required for completion. One such project is the subway in Cincinnati, Ohio; at more than two miles in length, it could be the longest unused subway system in the world. And more than a century since construction began, some hope remains that it may one day be put into service. [thedrive.com]
Spielberg’s West Side Story makes the subway sing
If you’ve taken the subway a lot in New York City, you might be familiar with a peculiar, whirring three-note refrain that plays just as some trains pull out of the station – a sequence of notes that happens to trace the opening phrase “There’s a place” from the song “Somewhere” in West Side Story. In Steven Spielberg’s new film adaptation of the story, Tony and María decide to rendezvous at a subway station after the dance. When they get into a train and head off to the Cloisters for a date, you can hear that distinctive sequence resolving to a screech. [vulture.com]
Machines vend ramen and dumplings in Tokyo subway
Tokyo Metro Co. has installed a vending machine in a subway station that sells frozen ramen and gyoza dumplings from famous restaurants. Restaurant business in the commercial areas within train stations, called ekinaka, has been sluggish due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this vending machine is intended to capture new demand. The machine was installed in Iidabashi Station on the Namboku Line. Ramen from three restaurants and gyoza from another restaurant are available. [the-japan-news.com]
Why metro stations are so important to Cyberpunk 2077
The 2018 E3 trailer for the game showed the playable character, V, in a monorail car surrounded by other inhabitants of Night City. The narration over the trailer emphasized the variety of characters V would be brushing elbows with in Cyberpunk 2077, and the short clip of a busy monorail car made the world seem alive and bustling. Obviously, a rapid transport system is not typically a high priority with gamers, this was a feature of how immersive Night City was supposed to be, and its absence from the actual game added to the disappointment felt by players. [gamerant.com]
