Worst Underground Train Systems Around the World Revealed
From 'appalling' conditions and crime hotspots to extreme overcrowding, several major global subway networks face significant passenger complaints.
Major underground train systems across the globe are facing criticism for a variety of issues, including poor conditions, safety concerns, and severe overcrowding.
London's Northern and Central Lines have drawn significant passenger ire, with Freedom of Information data indicating they received the most complaints about carriage conditions between 2023 and 2026. The Northern Line accounted for 307 complaints, while the Central Line received 251, together making up over half of the total complaints for the network.
In New York City, the Lexington Avenue line, which serves the busy four, five, and six trains, has been identified as a particular problem area. Research by the urban policy think-tank Vital City highlighted that stations along this route have the highest number of violent crimes. Passengers also report extreme crowding during rush hour, describing the experience as "an absolute nightmare."
Tokyo Metro, a vital artery for millions of residents and visitors, is frequently cited for its extreme overcrowding during peak hours. One account described the experience as being "packed like sardines," where passengers could not move even if the train braked suddenly. Commuters from Tokyo indicated that such conditions are a daily reality.
Paris Metro's Line 13 has a long-standing poor reputation, with passengers describing it as "packed-to-the-brim" and noting its slowness compared to other lines. Although Line 13 faces issues, Line 8 has more recently been labeled the "worst" by Parisians due to complaints about it being excessively long, slow, and unreliable.
Budapest Metro, previously named the worst in Europe, received a respectable average Google review score of 4.05 out of five. However, a 2024 study by luggage storage website Bounce noted that 75% of online reactions to news about the system were negative, despite its 382 million annual passengers and 48 stations across four lines.
In Brazil, São Paulo Metro's Line 3-Red has been identified as the poorest performer in terms of mechanical and technical failures. A survey in the first half of 2026 recorded 28 incidents on this line, with other lines like Line 7-Rubi and Line 8-Diamante also experiencing numerous failures.
