Train infrastructure is so underfunded (thx oil) that you can still get the fingering at most train stations for a really reasonable fee.
Crackheads will steal the copper from the rail and cause a 30 car derailment.
In case this is real: you realize that trains already exist, right? Crackheads don’t “steal the copper from the rail”, in part because the rails don’t have copper (they’re made of steel, the copper is in the overhead line), and in part because the rails are giant continuously-welded steel rails nailed to concrete sleepers; you can’t just pick em up and walk off with em.
Nearly the entire northern half of california lost internet a few years back because crackheads decided to try and steal fiberoptic cable, which is made of glass, so dont question the dedication to debauchery of the american crackhead.
The US public transportation, especially the passenger rail network is fucking pathetic.
And for one more added bonus we wouldn’t have to fix the problems with air traffic control
I was in Switzerland and the trains there are incredible. Even the tiniest village in buttfucksburg, nowhere has a train connecting it to the rest of the country.
Trains not planes is a much more reasonable and practical way to get people behind building more railways than planes not cars. We can talk planes not cars once some of the initial infrastructure is in place, but I think focusing on replacing something people hate (flying) rather than replacing something they like (driving) is probably a good place to start.
Yeah, I’d much rather take a train than plane. However, where I live, I seriously need my car and I enjoy the freedom of driving. I am not in a huge city with rush hour traffic though.
I recently went on a holiday using high speed rail in Europe (1100km). Flying was cheaper and faster. Sadly I have feeling of empathy and principles so I went with the train anyway. Wasn’t too bad though just did a lot of reading.
To be honest, I haven’t seen anyone else mention the real reason: America allowed private companies to buy and own the lands under the rails in the 1800s in order to deal with the massive distances across the US to connect the West and East. 150 years later and just a few companies own almost all the track and rail across America. Almost all private, not public land. Public citizens and communities have very little control over the railways going through their communities. These companies lobby against and make it difficult to introduce new, public rail lines for a multitude of reasons. This is one of very many examples of how corporations abuse law, monopolistic practices, and media to lessen the power of American citizens.
That doesn’t even take into account that a lot of rails in the US are owned by Canadian companies.
Cuz of all the issues that come with laying rail lines. Eminent Domain has somehow become even more unpopular as of late. And guess what building rail lines requires?
Steel?
And indentured workers!
Frequently, blowing holes in hills and mountains so you can get that 3% gradient.
Right, but you pay that price once. Cars and planes have a lot more maintenance costs than trains.
Rich people owning land and trying to get a mark up on the value or a backhand. Or just being near it.
I know this website is pretty communist and I’m not. But surely anyone with half a brain even a die hard capitalist can see the gain in buying land and resetting the market for what is most valuable now not legacy at what was most valuable in the 60’s.
Anyone that is against heavy funding in public transport, tax on land/ reallocation for more density and education isn’t a capitalist they are just a cunt.
Anyone that is against heavy funding in public transport, tax on land/ reallocation for more density and education isn’t a capitalist they are just a cunt.
Especially true since there’s a lot more potential for capitalism in trains than there is in roads—the latter of which is probably the biggest socialised cost in America.
Planes are safer. Plus, TSA is the only way I get any sexual contact. I’m not giving that up.
Planes are safer.
Americans unironically believe stupid shit like this, hilarious
Planes are not safer than rail. Definitely not if you fly Boeing.
Ok but you still haven’t said anything about sexual contact 🤔
Asking nicely can go a long way.
Safer than American trains.
American trains are safe, they’re just really slow.
More of a joke.
American trains do suck compared to other trains.
Rail and aviation are pretty much on par. Both are far far much safer than road traffic.
Rail is hard if it’s from one country to another (I think Europe is the exception)
In my case, I have to take rail from Ankara to Edirne, Edirne to Bucharest, Bucharest to Vienna, and after Vienna I can access anywhere in Europe
The problem is, going from Edirne to Bucharest requires two visas
Even in the EU there are still some difficulties. Like Finland and Estonia are on broad gauge not standard gauge. So their network isn’t connected to the rest of the EU. Spain and French haven’t connected their high speed rail network because of some dispute. So you have to get off at the border take a slow train across the border than walk to another platform to get on the other train.
Also rules says the crew needs to speak the local language of the country the train drives trough and traffic rules vary by country so if the driver doesn’t speak the language or doesn’t know the rules they need to change drivers when a train crosses a border which adds more delays.
Problem is also that there are still many rail networks in Europe that are privately owned.
Railway is expensive to build.
And airports on the other hand are free.
I’m not sure about other countries but one thing Amtrak has over planes is that they’re more disability accessible. Still making improvements on legacy equipment but they’re under the ADA, whereas airlines lobbied themselves out of it, which is why they never bothered to create wheelchair spaces or accessible bathrooms or even seats a normal human can occupy comfortably.
tbf if airlines had to serve people they could not be profitable
Not my problem.
you say that but could you say that to an A class shareholder on the verge of tears over not being able to retire at 50 they might even have to work
Ha!
I would, and look them in the eyes the whole time while smiling.
The cost of dedicated passenger rail lines is staggering, and the US has a LOT of ground to cover.
Yeah no country has ever built a high speed passenger rail network interconnecting cities spread throughout an area comparable to the usa. And it’s absurd to think that it could be done in under 20 years and receive massive popular support and have universally recognised benefits. Guys the cost is too high for the biggest economy on earth and the distance is so far that they could never build a railway across it especially not more than 100 years ago.
(Well to be fair the Chinese did also build the railways across the US so maybe they do have something America doesn’t)
This comment really needs a /sarcasm tag
I’m sorry are you being serious? Please add /srs if you are to your comment. I don’t know what to think unless explicitly told because I’ve never used my brain before.
I am serious. I read your comment twice wondering if you were being serious. Even with your comment at the end, I imagine a lot of people would read your comment straight, since most people don’t know much about Chinese HSR.
Wait is this serious? I need an /srs if it is?
Slave labor.
Man if only the US and a massive incarcerated population with which they could use to forcibly work on a rail project, then it would be possible. If only.
Woosh
Huh?
The rare double woosh.
What’s a woosh
Something like 30% of the US lives in the strip between Washington DC and Boston. It’s absolutely achievable for the richest country on Earth to provide high speed rail in that section.
There’s already a lot of passenger rail options in that part of the country. I’ve used it, and it works great.
This post is specifically about using it in place of airlines, which is used for longer-distance travel.
If you want to use it in place of airlines, you need high-speed rail. Something that the US has basically none of
As someone from Russia, we have even larger territory, and going by rail is almost twice as cheap as by plane.
High speed rail from Saint Petersburg to Moscow will cost you ~$45, going by plane will set you back ~$75 on the cheapest flight with hand luggage only. Considering the time losses associated with airports, you’ll be at your destination almost as fast for way cheaper, so this option is widely preferred.
Same story with long distance trips - I plan on going for a 1000km trip in July, and train ticket costed me the same $45, while cheapest plane tickets go around $100. It’s also a night train with beds and all, so I have one night accommodation for free while on my way. Depart - have a nice sleep - be on your destination in the morning and have a full day to yourself, fully rested.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go all the way from Moscow to Vladivostok by single train for $250. This will take almost a week, but it will get you around half the planet for that money.
The monkey paw grants your wish but all the trains are built by Boeing.
Those are called trolleys because they don’t have doors
*pipes, as those do have a few holes
