Devan Wang<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Toronto Council is replacing the subway trains on the Yonge-University-Spadina line with \u201cToronto Rockets.\u201d They\u2019re supposedly faster and have a larger carrying capacity. That\u2019s nice and all, but there is one thing missing: the front facing window of the lead car in the train. I remember when I was a kid, I would always run to the front of the station\u00a0while waiting for the subway, to get a chance to\u00a0peer out the
\nfront facing window – the only front facing window in the entire train. I would
\nwatch in awe as the darkened tunnels, fluorescent lights, and flashing signals pass
\nby in a blur. No child could resist the temptation. It would look especially
\nbeautiful, going north from St. Clair station to Davisville station, where the
\ntracks emerge into the outdoors, with a spectacular view of Mt. Pleasant
\nCemetery.<\/p>\n
But now? The new subways don\u2019t have the front facing window in the front car.
\nUnlike the old trains, where the driver\u2019s cab only occupies half of the width
\nof the first train, the new Rockets\u2019 cabs take up the entire width of the car,
\nblocking all forward visibility for children and adults alike. \u201cThat\u2019s just the
\ndesign of the new trains,\u201d says TTC spokesman Brad Ross. \u201cSome of the
\nelectronics meant the cabs had to be different. The fun factor, I suppose, is
\nremoved somewhat.\u201d \u00a0While I do appreciate all the other aspects of the new
\nRockets, \u00a0such as better lighting, a better communication system, and
\nspeed, I just can\u2019t seem to forgive the absence of a part of my childhood that
\nwas so vital. \u00a0However, the Bloor-Danforth and Sheppard line will still
\nhave the old Rockets for at least the near future. I guess I will have to
\nrevisit my childhood memories through them\u2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Devan Wang The Toronto Council is replacing the subway trains on the Yonge-University-Spadina line with \u201cToronto Rockets.\u201d They\u2019re supposedly faster and have a larger carrying capacity. That\u2019s nice and all, but there is one thing missing: the front facing … Continue reading