Air-travel has become a nightmare, but its still faster for anything over 1 hour.
I do believe that if rail-travel was an option, people would choose rail. For example, Amtrak's Acela is often sold-out for the Boston-NY-DC corridor for nearby bookings, and in strong demand periods, they boost prices to rival airfares. For such high-density corridors, it shows there is a large market.
We should do much more to encourage private passenger rail investment. Most of that would simply be ending government control nd involvement.
America is car crazy and always has been.
We love our independence and ability to drive directly to the destination even if it means it’ll take longer.
I have seen youtube videos promoting luxury bus travel....I’m hearing that’s an up and coming mode of travel but the downside right now is departure and destination locations are limited.
“Other countries will always have superior rail service because their passenger lines have rail dedicated to them exclusively......and are mostly privately run and managed.”
“I do believe that if rail-travel was an option, people would choose rail...”
“We should do much more to encourage private passenger rail investment.”
Other countries have less distances to travel, and they also have local transportation (streetcars and underground) services to get you anywhere you want to go. The new(ish) Brightline service in Florida will be putting a station in at Cocoa, Fl eventually. This will work great for me when I need to travel to the airport for work and pleasure. If I wanted to go anywhere else in the Orlando area, I’d have to uber, taxi or bus into the location I need to be at (additional time and money). I once calculated the time for a trip that take me 45 minutes by car. Rail to MCO and other transportation options from the airport made it a 3-hour trip...one way. I’ll take the car any day for that.