> Everybody knows that NYC subway isn't as modern as a lot of systems but don't forget that it's by far the largest subway system in the world and also one of the oldest.
Paris and London’s subway are older, around the same size, and much much much more modern than NYC. Underinvestment is what makes NYC’s metro shitty.
Paris and London's subway systems are not comparatively sized. Paris has more than 100 fewer stations than NYC. It's about 60% the size. London is even smaller.
Note that the count of 270 stations usually given for London excludes the DLR and the Overground, which are effectively part of the same system. The DLR has 45 stations and the Overground 112. It's perhaps debatable how much of the Overground should be included in the count, but the DLR certainly should.
London spends half as much per passenger mile as NYC. A mile of subway in Paris or London costs 1/7 as much to build as in NYC. What makes NYC’s metro shitty is that New Yorkers are running it.
Paris and London’s subway are older, around the same size, and much much much more modern than NYC. Underinvestment is what makes NYC’s metro shitty.