Posted on 02/16/2023 9:49:16 AM PST by Jeff Chandler
If you ask someone to close their eyes and picture a train, they'll typically imagine one of two things:
The sleek, fast European passenger trains that can zip through the countryside, or The industrial, coal-burning freight trains that powered the American westward expansion. So, how did these two vastly dissimilar pictures come to be? In this article, we'll take a closer look at the key differences between American and European rail systems.
HOW DO EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN TRAINS DIFFER? When it comes to American trains vs. European trains, there are six main factors that help make each one stand apart: their freight-to-passenger ratio, funding, rail infrastructure, train designs, operating procedures, and government regulations. Let's explore each of these in-depth.
1. Freight-to-Passenger Ratio What really sets these two rail networks apart are the shares of their respective freight and passenger transportation markets. North American railways handle about 84% freight cargo and only 16% passengers, while the European Union's railways are almost exactly the inverse at 80% passengers and 20% freight. This difference in focus is primarily due to their opposing historical priorities: American railways were built to move goods across a vast country with a sparse population, whereas European railways were mostly created to move large amounts of people between densely populated cities. To learn more, check out our recent article on the history of short line railroads in America.
2. Train Design Due to their opposing priorities, American and European trains are designed quite differently. American trains are typically longer and wider to accommodate more freight, while European trains are shorter and narrower to allow for more nimble movements and quicker acceleration. American freight cars also tend to be lower to the ground to make it easier to load and unload heavy cargo, whereas European passenger cars are typically higher off the ground to offer a better view of the passing scenery.
An Italian regional passenger train at a Swiss border station in Chiasso, Switzerland. An Italian regional passenger train at a Swiss border station in Chiasso, Switzerland. 3. Operating Procedures As a result of their different train designs, American and European operating procedures are also quite dissimilar. American trains typically have one powerful locomotive at the front that pulls the entire train (although this is changing thanks to distributed power systems), while European trains often have multiple locomotives that pull the train from the front and push it from behind (or a mix of both). American locomotives also typically run on diesel fuel, whereas European locomotives can run on either diesel or electric power.
4. Rail Infrastructure The American National Rail Network is more than twice the size of the European rail system, with over 224,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) of track compared to Europe's mere 94,000 miles (151,000 kilometers). American railways were also built on a wider gauge (the distance between the rails), which allows for larger and heavier trains. As a result, American freight railways are much more efficient than their European counterparts, carrying almost three times as much cargo per mile of track. The only downside of this wider gauge is that it isn't compatible with Europe's smaller standard gauge, so American trains cannot run on European tracks and vice versa.
5. Funding American railways are primarily privately owned, with freight companies investing their own money into the system. In contrast, most European railways are publicly owned and funded by taxpayers. This has led to very different attitudes towards investment: American companies are more likely to reinvest their profits into the railway system, while European railway companies have been known to be more resistant to private investment and change.
6. Government Regulations American railways are subject to less government regulation than European railways, which gives freight companies more freedom to operate as they see fit. For instance, American freight companies are not required to use their tracks for passenger service (although many still do), whereas European freight companies must share their tracks with passenger trains. American freight companies are also allowed to ship cargo that would typically be banned in Europe, such as crude oil, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous materials.
SO, WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE BEST RAILROAD SYSTEM? Given all of these differences, it's hard to say definitively which country has the better railway system. Ultimately, it comes down to what you're looking for in a railway system. American railways are significantly more efficient and cost-effective at moving freight cargo for businesses, whereas European railways offer a much smoother and more scenic experience for their rail passengers.
WWWG* say?
*What Would Willie Green
I remember Willie Green.
The airplane killed passenger service in this Nation.
It is obvious that you have never been on a train in China or India. That is a ride from HELL, I can tell you.
Ever hear a Shay climbing a mountain? I love ‘em.
I have ridden eastern corridor Boston to Orlando. Very diverse. Lots of crime. Stopped frequently to give criminal to police.
They weren’t in Germany around 1938 and on. If the lefties prevail, we might see those return. I go dibs on the crack near the door.
Good interstate busses are best and most comfortable. We have a privately owned North East bus company which wins very high grades. No one drives to Logan Airport any more. Bus service to a d from a terminals
The owners still have to give permission for trains to pass
My train-loving dad was 6’5”.
I am 5’10” woman.
I am actually shocked how spacious coach is on Amtrak.
Add to that, if your train is sparsely populated….you might go anywhere you want!
On my dad’s last trip from NE our family got on (regular train south; we had Acela north) just below Boston so it was empty, but we were heading to coach and a conductor just said, go ahead forward into our business class! It was even nicer than coach.
So things are also much more flexible on trains. Airplane, you get what you get. Likely horribly tight!
Unless you’re in Business Class, most airlines are flying Greyhound buses.
I thought party buses were the best and most comfortable.
i agree. I have ridden trains in the US and Europe. In both cases, if you have the time, a big IF in these angst-ridden days, riding the train beats flying.
What if the owners of the tracks also operated the passenger railroads, or were invested in those that did?
They would have a direct financial stake in making sure their trains ran on time.
I imagine a car load of human passengers would have MUCH higher revenue and profit than the bulk cargo they haul now.
Exactly.
No, freight was always more profitable. That’s part of why RRs started dropping passenger service.
You cannot fit too many paying customers into a car. However, you can fit a whole carload of valuable merchandise on one. So you can squeeze more revenue out of that freight than out of even a “full” passenger car. Never mind the condition the cars must be in. Minimal for freight, maximum for live human customers.
whereas European railways were mostly created to move large amounts of people between densely populated cities.
Not really. European railroads were built to move armies to the borders.
American railways were also built on a wider gauge (the distance between the rails),
Wrong. Everyone in Europe and N. America but the Russians use the same gauge. This article is wrong on a lot of facts.
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