Hi everyone. I'm going to those two cities at different times this year and have a fairly specific question. I prefer to travel in cities by public transport but have quite a severe fear of heights, especially on long escalators. Can anyone say if the underground lines in Antwerp and Berlin are very deep and with long escalator shafts? Are they like the Paris Metro and mostly only a few feet underground, or are they more like the deeper lines in London or the ex-Communist metros that were built as nuke shelters?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
In Antwerp, the trams run just below street level. If fear of heights is an issue, you may have some problems in the main train station. It is a multi-level complex. IC trains service the lower level, which lies about. 2-3 stories underground. Regional trains arrive on a suspended platform above the IC trains.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Most all of the U-Bahn stations in Berlin, are just below street level. So there are usually just very short escalators/stairs. The S-Bahn runs above street level on elevated platforms...that's where you'll mostly find the long escalators.
Posted by
Berlin, Germany
337 posts
Berlins subway is in most parts less than 10 meters under street level. And pretty much all subway stations have an entrance hall midway between the street level and the tracks. The escalators between street level and entrance hall and between entrance hall and platform level are not much longer than excalators between levels in public buildings (e.g. department stores). As a reference point: the deepest escalator of the Berlin subway station is in the Gesundbrunnen station: because it's a crossing of the S-Bahn and the subway the subway is around 15 meters deep there. And there is an "express" escalator (i.e. without a mid way level) between the street level and the subway station that bridges a hight difference of 14 meters (dunno what the actual length of the escalator is).
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
This may be a dumb response. If long escalators bother you, then why not just use elevators? I know sometimes they are in odd or hard to find places but I think they almost always exist.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33852 posts
Philip I agree with the comment above about the Antwerp main station. It has recently been turned from a terminus station to a through station and opened up inside. The feeling is very much open plan and multi level. I love it but I can see how it may be difficult for somebody with your concerns. The platforms are very secure feeling, and you may feel better if you are on the side of the escalator away from the drop? Antwerp is a beautiful city and it would be a shame to miss it. I don't know if its still in use but if you can get a train to Antwerpen-Berchem its only a tram-ride away from the centre and while one storey up, there are no long escalators. Good luck...
Posted by
OP
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Frank, practically worldwide, stations with long escalators do not have elevators unless they were built within the last decade or so to be wheelchair accessible.