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I rode London's famous Underground system for a week - and I saw why New York's subway will never catch up

I rode London's famous Underground system for a week - and I saw why New York's subway will never catch up

Tap your Oyster card again to leave the station, and it'll register how much you paid. It took roughly 40 minutes to get to my destination, and with not a single bump along the way. New York can't do that.

Canonbury, safe and sound.

When the train stopped at the station, the doors didn't open. After a moment of confusion, I realized the doors don't open automatically. You have to instead press this glowing "open door" button. A quick press, and I had arrived.

I watched scenic Shoreditch whiz by the window.

There were outlets, but I wouldn't try them if I were you.

Other than that, they're pretty standard, relatively large rapid transit cars.

One notable feature: they're articulated, meaning you can walk from one end to the other with no barrier at all.

Here it comes. The Overground's trains aren't like subway trains.

Three minutes until the train I needed would arrive — not bad at all.

Turns out all I had to do was walk up a single flight of stairs, and I was at the correct platform. Even though the Overground is technically a different system, it still uses the same Oyster card, and I didn't even have to tap in or out. Neat.

Now to transfer to the Overground. I followed the signs for the northbound train.

A few minutes later, I arrived at Canada Water.

Inside, the cars feel a little cramped because of the sloping ceilings. Even though this car didn't look brand-new, it still had automated announcements that even told you which side of the train the doors would open at each stop.

Another cool thing about the Underground: all the seats are cloth-covered, and they're much more comfortable than a plastic bench. There are also cloth-covered rails to lean against, which is a smart idea.

One note: Larger subway cars are in service on other lines that are not limited by the tiny ancient tunnels.

Another unique feature on the Jubilee line: platform screen doors. They line up exactly where the doors of the train are and open simultaneously.

This has numerous benefits, but chief among them is safety. Dozens of people die in train-related accidents every year, but these doors could prevent people from falling or being pushed onto the tracks.

A train left just as I got to the platform. Rats. But not to worry, as there's one literally two minutes away. Not bad for 1:20 p.m. on a Tuesday.

Down I go. The Jubilee line is relatively new compared to the rest of the Underground. It looks a little more metallic than the historic stations on other Tube lines.

The turnstile then reads out how much cash you have left on your Oyster card. Getting through the turnstile is quick as a flash, and while there were times the card didn't register on the first touch, another quick touch did the trick.

Each station has this yellow pad that you touch the card to to open the gates. There's no swiping whatsoever.

Londoners with a special contactless credit card, which uses the same tech and is common in the UK, can also just touch their credit or debit cards to the turnstile to pay the same fare as an Oyster card.

Nearly every journey on London transportation starts with an Oyster card. I started mine at Waterloo station with the plan to take the Victoria line eastbound. In London, you pay a fare that fluctuates according to the zones you travel through. Since I didn't leave Zone 1, I still paid less than £3, even though I went on two separate systems.

A £5 deposit gets you an Oyster card to use for as long as you need — it never expires. You can also turn it in and receive a refund for the £5 you paid, plus any remaining balance on it.

The Overground operates a lot like a normal subway, with some elements of a commuter rail. The trains are wider but shorter, and they travel mostly above ground on the outskirts of the city. I was worried about how easy it would be to catch one, but I decided to take my chances.

After making a few quick east-west trips on the Underground, I decided to put it to the test by going some distance. I was going to visit a friend in a northern part of London. This was a bit of a trip: about five miles through the city center, or a 40-minute drive according to Google Maps.

To get to Stoke Newington from Waterloo via transit, I could have taken a bus. As nice as the buses are in London, that didn't seem appealing. Another option was to take the Underground as well as the Overground. It said it would take me 40 minutes — not bad!