I can walk for just a few minutes, and I'm at a Métro stop or a train station. From there, it's so easy to get anywhere I want to go. I don't have to be stuck in my apartment with nothing to do. There's so much to explore, thanks to the railway!
Trains in Paris are also good for the environment. The bigger trains like the RER and Transilien are designed to not put out too many harmful gases. Also, if lots of people use public transportation, there are fewer cars on the street. Fewer cars also means less harmful gas in the air.
I really wish my city back in California had transportation like this. In Anaheim, there are buses, and even a train that goes to bigger cities. However, they're a bit hard to get to, and they don't run as often as the trains here in Paris. Back home, people mainly use cars. There's a lot of traffic on the freeway every day! It takes a lot of time to get to work or school in the morning, and back home in the evening. It can also be a big source of pollution.
I admit, transportation in Paris has some bad moments sometimes. A network this big can't avoid every single problem. For example, I've been on a Métro train that was stuck at the station for nearly an hour. I've also been at train stations that are so crowded, it's difficult to move. There's also always construction going on somewhere. This can cause trains to be delayed or even canceled.
When my travel plans on the rail system hit a snag, it can be really frustrating. Instead of getting angry, though, I take a bit of time to breathe. Then I think of plan B. There's usually another way to get where I need to be. That's just one of the many great things about the rail network!
