Traveling to New York City for the holidays means long lines, crowds everywhere and cold weather. BUT...it also means really excellent, unique diversions like what we've twice now run into underground on the city subway lines: the "Nostalgia Shoppers' Special Train." Since the end of November, this vintage subway train (think 1930s through 1950s) has been again plying the tracks every Sunday, clanking between the Queens Plaza and 2nd Avenue stops.

A ride on the train costs the same as every other MTA ride—$2.25—and you can find it's arrival/departure schedule here. This upcoming Sunday—December 26—is its last run for the season, and we highly highly recommend it. It's the first time we've smiled on the subway in a long time, thanks in part to the awesome crowds who get dress up in period clothing for the occasion, and turn the train into their own personal vintage Christmas party (complete with cheery musical trio).

Here's more from the two journeys we've taken on it:]]> JetSetCD 2010-12-20T15:41:23-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/11/1/162848/140

You hear all the stories about guys on the subway who get touchy-feely and the problems that creates, and then you also hear that things like women-only cars have been created to combat this problem. Well, we are happy to report that yes, they do exist, and we recently rode in one in Tokyo. [sidenote: yes, I am a female]

Although we were tempted to take tons of photos of the civility that reigned inside the car, which was the last carriage on a rush hour train out of the Shinjuku station, we instead took a moment to play local, and only snap this photo while awaiting the train.

For the men out there missing out on the women-only subway cars: you are missing out. It's a nice ride! Our train even sported sakura flower decals and little Hello Kitty stickers on the doors, where she warned riders to keep their fingers clear or risk having them injured. Super kawaii!

[Photo: Jaunted]]]> JetSetCD 2010-11-01T16:28:48-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/29/15115/3616

Around 11pm last night EST, which would be during the morning rush hour in Moscow, two separate female suicide bombers detonated themselves in the subway underground of the city. The first occurred in a train at the main station Lubyanka, killing 23 on the train and platform and the second came at the Park Kultury station, killing another 12. The attacks again raise important questions about the safety of public transportation while turning an eye to Russia and their terrorism problems with Islamist rebels fighting for independence in Chechnya.

Russia is not new to subway bombings, but then neither are Tokyo, London or New York, the latter of which has foiled several attempts of terrorists to bomb and even cyanide gas the system. As a result, expect subway security to be beefed up in big cities around the world, especially in New York. Plan for random bag checks and remember that using common sense is a good defense. While there's probably no need to bring your flame-retardent suit on the train today, it's also a good idea to be aware of what's going on around you.

Related Stories:
· Moscow Subways Attacked, NYPD Increases Subway Security [Gothamist]
· Two Blasts in Moscow Metro, Dozens Killed [RT]
· Tragedies [Jaunted]

[Photo: BookRags]]]> JetSetCD 2010-03-29T09:00:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/2/25813/01486

You can travel around the world by plane, bus, ship, or even pogo stick, but what if you could go from New York to Alexandria, Egypt simply by changing trains in Lyon, France? This is the dream of Mark Ovenden, who partnered with an illustrator and the London Transport Museum for this special inclusion in the book "Metro Maps of the World."

Although it might be a dream, the idea is so appealing. Perhaps if we had world peace, better tunnel-drilling technology and faster bullet trains, it wouldn't be such a fantastical idea. But we don't have those things, and so we must be content with staring at the full size version of this map and imagining the possibilities. How awesome would it be to hop an express bullet subway train in Newark and be in Bucharest after only 5-6 stops?

We do have one issue with the map, however. As inspiring as it is, they've put Chicago further out than Minneapolis. Switch! Illinois comes before before Minnesota when you head west, and we're not so sure Chicago would be happy as anything less than a hub. Do we need a 2010 revision of the map? Perhaps!

Related Stories:
· Full-size of the world metro map [Flickr Creative Commons]
· Google Earth Zooms In on the US Military's Huge Aircraft Graveyard [Jaunted]
· Maps [Jaunted]

[Photo: Mark Ovenden/Annie Mole on Flickr]]]> JetSetCD 2010-03-02T14:36:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/15/055/83014

Guess what we saw this weekend! That's right, it's the rumored Holland Tourism train, which is really just the S Train in the New York City subway system, but wrapped in advertising.

The genius ad campaign comes from the Netherlands Board of Tourism, who are hoping that when you're sandwiched into a subway car filled with their images of bicycles next to canals and famous Dutch paintings, that you'll get it into your head to maybe vacation in Amsterdam or anywhere in Holland during one of your two weeks off a year. We don't think we've ever been on the S Train simply because the 7 Train does the same route, but when we spotted this one idling at Times Square, we noted that it was packed with people who were about to fall prey to the subliminal messaging of the ads. Score for Holland!

One more picture after the jump]]> JetSetCD 2010-02-15T13:35:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/11/225445/117

The Dutch just won't let New Yorkers forget that they could be living in "Nieuw Amsterdam" and not "New York." Holland may have lost their grip on Manhattan back in 1674, but they can still find their way in somehow...and these days, they're hoping to gain access to the wallets of New Yorkers by enticing them to vacation in the Netherlands. And what better way to get the attention of jaded New Yorkers than by taking over their commute and decorating the interiors of subway cars? Sure, it's been before, but it never fails to delight.

All through the rest of February, the S Train will be wrapped inside and out with scenes of Holland, like a canal with bikes or a dark wood museum gallery with Vermeer's Girl With the Pearl Earring on the wall. And because everyone loves freebies. street teams will be handing out "Holland-themed giveaways" each week at the Grand Central and Times Square stations.

And then there's the big prize... ]]> JetSetCD 2010-02-12T12:35:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/26/151954/606

Thanks to a Jaunted reader who emailed to bring this craziness back to mind, we present you with the infamous train pushers of Japan. The video above is the craziest we've seen yet on YouTube, but the most famous one is this clip from the subway.

Our tipster also included the remark: "and we thought the MTA was bad!" That would be the New York subway system—the Metropolitan Transit Authority—and yep, although NYC's subways system can get crazy crowded, videos like these remind us that it could well be worse.

It's even worst than in Rome, where we'd wait an average of four trains before we could get in one during rush hour—and those aren't air-conditioned, and you're contending with touchy-feely smarmy guys who don't make distinctions when they reach out and touch someone. Do you know any other cities where the public transportation gets this bad? Share your stories in the comments, so we can all learn where to keep our jackets zipped up and our bags small.

Related Stories:
· Japanese Train Pusher videos [YouTube]
· Taxis, Cable Cars and Ferries, Oh My! A Guide to Hong Kong Transportation [Jaunted]]]> JetSetCD 2010-01-26T15:19:54-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/