[iowamark]

Other countries have high speed electric trains powered by clean domestic nuclear generated electricity. Not us.

[Philistone]

Among the first beneficiaries will be employees of the European Central Bank, based in Frankfurt, but headed by the Frenchman Jean-Claude Trichet.

Ahhh..... It all becomes clear now. It's as true now as it ever was with the French: when in doubt: cherchez l'argent...

[theDentist]

[antiRepublicrat]

ICE trains rule. They’re comfortable, clean and fast, and you just hop right on without having to go through an hour-long bureaucratic nightmare at the airport.

I’ve driven in fast cars on the Autobahn between the same cities as I took ICE, and I’ve never come close to the ICE’s time. That includes the ICE stopping a few times for passengers (they don’t stop at every little station, just the big ones).

[Philistone]

Other countries have high speed electric trains powered by clean domestic nuclear generated electricity. Not us.

The reason France and Germany have high-speed trains while we don't is that they are Socialist countries. The TGV has never made money and never will.

Because the state owns both the railroads and the national airlines, airline ticket prices are higher than they should be - to help keep the trains competitive.

SNCF workers are among the most radical communists existing in any Western country today. Their union, the CGT, received money from the KGB right up until 1989. They believe that the trains actually belong to them (rather than the taxpayers), and have no qualms about going on random work stoppages, or using the trains to block stations, highway crossings or whatever.

They have almost single-handedly kept France from modernizing.

Be careful what you wish for...

[lovecraft]

I have ridden the TGV before in France and you are correct, I'd love to have something like that here. With the constant deterioration of comfort and customer service at the airlines, I would GLADLY take a little longer to get to my business destination.

I would do it just to avoid having to practically strip during the security checkpoints, sitting with my knees in my chin for hours (I'm 6'3), and the biggest benefit of all, no longer having to deal with a 50 yr old stewardess who's only ambition in life is to make your life as miserable as hers.

[Gamecock]

I travel on the DB a lot, but not once have I ever had the desire to partake of the drinkable water in the lavatories

[B-Chan]

Ich hab’ ein Amerikas Hochgeschwindenkeitzug gern.

[jpsb]

"Other countries have high speed electric trains powered by clean domestic nuclear generated electricity. Not us. "

No our high speed transport is power by jet fuel and is faster then any train.