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Why has Europe developed it's train network and America has not.
Many government dollars go into developing the Airport infrastructure, why not Air to Train for most American big cities?
Yes, the US has less population density, cars and fuel are cheaper.
Culturally are we just resistant to Trains?
http://www.amtrak.com/train-routes
Many government dollars go into developing the Airport infrastructure, why not Air to Train for most American big cities?
Yes, the US has less population density, cars and fuel are cheaper.
Culturally are we just resistant to Trains?
http://www.amtrak.com/train-routes
Leisure and Travel
Family
United States
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 41
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I think the primary reasons we don't use trains like they do in Europe are:
1. When the major cities of Europe were maturing/growing into major cities (Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin etc). Trains were coming of age as THE mass transit system. They built their cities arouind the train, the train stations, the subway etc.
2. Geography. Europe is the size of Texas. It lends itself well to rail travel.
3. The U.S. as it was growing had a lot of open space, creating rail serice everywhere wasn't practical. The big cities in the northeast have it and some out west but the larger part of the country does not. The airplane was our salvation in regard to mass transit. Can you imagine a train from Atlanta to LA? No thanks.
1. When the major cities of Europe were maturing/growing into major cities (Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin etc). Trains were coming of age as THE mass transit system. They built their cities arouind the train, the train stations, the subway etc.
2. Geography. Europe is the size of Texas. It lends itself well to rail travel.
3. The U.S. as it was growing had a lot of open space, creating rail serice everywhere wasn't practical. The big cities in the northeast have it and some out west but the larger part of the country does not. The airplane was our salvation in regard to mass transit. Can you imagine a train from Atlanta to LA? No thanks.
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MSgt (Join to see)
I Love the trains. I take them Between St Louis and Chicago when at all possible. I also love our Metro System to get downtown when I need to. Unfortunately with the latter, it is not necessarily the safest at night after the debacle in north St. Louis. I don't mind driving, but I love to watch people and scenery and know that I wont have to find my car or fight traffic.
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In Japan, there has never been a fatality on the shinkansen. They are immaculate, cost effective, and you can set your watch to the schedule. In America,...............it's not like that. (Don't want to bash my country).
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You know what would be great? If you could drive your car onto a train to take you to another hub. Like some sort of land ferry.
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PO2 (Join to see)
Exactly. Then you don't have to worry about a rental or shuttle when you get there.
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PO2 (Join to see)
SSgt Ed Payne What??!? This blows my mind. I might have to go to Florida just to try it.
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LCpl Craig D. Pfautz
Amtrak does offer the autotrain , from virginia to orlando, pretty pricey though...
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SSG Greg Rivera
A few years ago when I was working at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, I did a lot of TDY and once while doing a cost analysis for my travel, I decided to check on rail. For the price and time, it was not cost effective at all.
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