U.S. broadcaster CNN has praised Seoul's subway system as world-class in cleanliness, safety and efficiency. The network drew particular attention to the fact that passengers can make phone calls and use mobile internet without interruption, both in stations and on moving trains.
In an article on the 18th introducing subway systems in major global cities, CNN gave Seoul prominent coverage. Citing the ability to freely use mobile phones for calls and internet access on board, as well as screens throughout the cars that allow passengers to watch television, the network described the system as befitting an ultramodern city that aspires to cutting-edge technology.
Amenities also drew praise. CNN said the air-conditioned and heated trains even have heated seats that make winter travel more comfortable, describing the system as spotlessly clean, efficient and safe, with reasonable fares and coverage across most of the city. That, the network added, is why many experts rank it as the best subway in the world.
Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) also scored highly. The network credited it with excellent punctuality, efficiency and service quality despite the difficult task of linking densely populated areas around the harbor, dozens of islands and new towns scattered across mountainous terrain.
CNN noted that despite Hong Kong's small size, the MTR operates more than 150 miles (about 241 kilometers) of track and 99 stations, with stations known for being clean and spacious. Building on its success in Hong Kong, the operator has expanded its business to take on rail projects and operations in mainland China, Sweden, Australia and the United Kingdom.
For Tokyo's subway, the defining keyword was the "pushman" — staff who push passengers into trains during rush hour and other peak periods, known in Japanese as oshiya.
CNN said that even though trains run up to 24 times an hour on precise timetables, many stations are reported to operate far beyond their design capacity, with some handling 200% more people than they were built for.
China's Beijing Subway and Shanghai Metro drew attention for explosive growth. The Beijing Subway, which opened in 1971, began more than a century after London's first underground line, but has grown into a vast network handling close to 10 million trips a day across 490 stations.
The Shanghai Metro, which opened in 1993, started even later but now carries an average of more than 10 million passengers a day across 508 stations. On March 8, 2024, it set a record of 13.4 million trips in a single day, putting it on par with Beijing.
CNN also assessed the London Underground — the world's first subway — along with the Paris Métropolitain and the New York City subway, saying they have become more than simply a means of transport, serving as part of their cities' culture and establishing themselves as global cultural icons.