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In the absence of a flair system on lemmy yet, let’s try to make it easier to scan through posts by type in here by using tags:
As it turns out it doesn't actually cost that much on regular transit, there's an AIRPORT SURCHARGE because it's an "airport train".
No wonder Americans don't use public transit, even when the system exists it's ridiculously difficult and expensive to use.
FYI, airport surcharges are very common. Across the bay at Oakland has an airport surcharge. Sydney has them too, which I was happy about because Melbourne doesn't have a train (AU $25 for a bus ticket, which was sold out) nor did Hobart. I recall AREX in Incheon also having a significant fare jump for the airport stops.
For argument purposes, BART is $0.18/mile (19th Oakland <> Berryessa). That's still pretty high for regional public transit, which is mostly due to BART's high farebox recovery. That high recovery is now a problem with the whole pandemic and subsequent slow return of ridership.
But in Sydney you will pay the surcharge only when you get off or on at the actual airport station. Just using that line and passing the airport will cost you nothing extra. Usually less than 4 AUD for the whole trip.
It's the same situation with BART. The surcharge only applies when using the airport stations. No extra charge if you're passing by.
London has a expensive express line from Heathrow to the city and a regular underground line that costs a fraction.
Cool. I'll be in London in a few months. Are the express trains nicer or are they the same sets as the local, but faster?
I didn't use them, so no idea if they are nicer - but they were quite a bit faster, yes.
Pro tip for London: You can swipe your credit card at the entry and exit points of your underground travels and it will cost you much less then any tourist tickets they sell.
You worried about nice train seats instead of just getting to where you're going lmao
The Narita Express also costs significantly more than the regular train into Tokyo. Airport trains have to account for travelers with a lot of luggage and thus can carry fewer people than regular trains.
BART trainsets are uniform. No special airport trains.
It has been a long time since I've been to Tokyo. Narita trains are nice but I never managed to catch the express. Even so, the local is still really nice. :)
The Sydney airport line uses the exact same rolling stock as the rest of the suburban network (and the airport stations are just stops along the line, not their own dedicated line). The surcharge is just revenue raising because the train is the easiest way to get to the airport, so fuck you, pay up.