Possibly hot take: the Brown Line train car interior seat layout is infinitely better than the Red Line layout
I ride the Red Line daily for work and general life, but take all the lines regularly. Tonight, I’m riding Red > Brown > Pink. I just completed my transfer at Belmont from Red to Brown, and the difference between the interior layout of the Red and Brown is so noticeable.
To me, the Brown feels so much more comfortable (the wood paneling helps) and the seats seem so much more commute-friendly in their layout, with several individual seats and most of the seats facing windows at 90°, rather than each other. I like looking out the windows, but it’s difficult when you’re face-to-face with other passengers on the Red Line, where seats are parallel to the windows.
I also find myself squeezed between two broad-shouldered people seemingly daily - while the Brown Line’s emphasis on paired seats (like the priority seats in a Red - my favorite when the train is empty) and prevents that.
I also notice that the Brown Line is consistently colder than the Red, which I appreciate. I acknowledge the Red Line’s layout is more efficient from a technical, data-driven perspective. But that approach to the layout manifests as a bit sterile and unfriendly from my perspective as an individual commuter.
Ultimately, the Red Line is still my #1 because it’s 24/7 and much faster (and much closer to home), but I’ve always found the Brown Line to be more comfortable.
Anyone who agrees or disagrees, feel free to share.