The Yamanote Line
Shibuya Station, near the Yamanote Line subway transfer
It pains me to say this, but lately it seems that every major metropolitan area in the world has a form of public transportation that is superior (on time, accessible, fast, clean!) to what we have here in Chicago (and Three Track, Phase 1 certainly isn't helping matters.) Ok...obviously, I exaggerate. Still, after months of spectacularly inconsistent CTA rail service, it really was a complete joy and relief to ride the Tokyo subway (which, btw, is the world's largest rapid transit system.) Sure, the just-shy-of-indecipherable "bowl of spaghetti" subway map gave us mild headaches from time to time (.pdf...you've been warned!), but one thing was always certain: the trains would arrive on time, they'd be clean and quiet, and you'd arrive at your destination as quickly as possible without threat of service failure (except in case of earthquake, of course) or the annoying "beep beep beep...we are waiting for signals ahead" (some of you know exactly what I'm talking about...)
I watched a news report the other day that touched on some of the history of the Chicago Transit Authority; the reporter made a big deal about how the CTA is over a hundred years old (not entirely accurate, but whatever.) I remember raising an eyebrow because that was also the day I'd read about Tokyo's Yamanote Line, which we rode frequently and which has been around since 1885. Looks like someone spent their 100+ years wisely. ;) Anyway, I really am fond of the CTA and have faith they'll get their act together eventually. Fingers crossed...
Yamanote Line rail car