ElI5: Why do subway trains have a flat front rather than being streamlined?
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because they don’t really need to be. designing a train to be streamlined makes it more expensive to build, and is dont because it helped reduce wind resistance and drag on the train. But this is only cost effective for trains that are meant to move Very fast over Long distances, which is why things like high speed rail lines or so called “bullet” trains between cities have flat fronts. By making these trains streamlined they make them more efficient, make them lose less energy, and in turn cost less to run because you pay for less energy.
Subway trains dont travel nearly as fast, and have to stop way way more often after much shorter distances, sometimes only a handful of blocks away. These lower speeds and the constant stopping and starting means that streamlining these trains isnt going to really benefit them, so theres no point to spend money on it.
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