Why don't Americans ride trains?

The Economist ^ | 29 Aug 2013 | Economist

[antceecee]

Agree
Agree
Agree
Agree... ad infinitum... Agree....

[antceecee]

Agree
Agree
Agree
Agree... ad infinitum... Agree....

[dennisw]

True! Europeans are obedient little serfs when it comes to owning automobiles and using trains

[Cronos]

The federal government’s to blame.

correct.

[woodbutcher1963]

Yes, it was the Marriott right on Times Square. He is a jerk anyway.

[1010RD]

we might not want to copy France: OECD data also show that in 2012 France’s per person GDP was 70 percent of per person GDP in the United States.

http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2014/04/22/the_systematic_errors_in_thomas_pikettys_new_book_101016.html

[Cronos]

Trains can be an effective way of transportation -- if managed and designed privately. If you think about it -- a train from Washington DC to Grand Central going at bullet train speeds would do great business. Of course you need a lot of capital investment first, but this would reap dividends year after year.

Maybe even Chicago-NY, but nothing further. For these short distances you can stretch, relax and work, maybe even walk around.

But if you get government designing or regulating, then you end up with the US passenger train system -- what a pity.

[Cronos]

it shouldn’t be an “or” situation, but an “and” situation — people’s right to choose. Right now cars make the best option, but that’s because, as olog points out, govt has regulated out the train services effectiveness

[Cronos]

it’s a pity that we’ve let government and unions destroy the potential.

[Cronos]

well, I wasn’t looking at it as an environment thing — more like giving people more choice: car or plane or train.

[Cronos]

Yes, the article seeks to provide an answer to the question posed by the title. As witnessed by answers here, we see also the effects of government interference and regulation that killed off passenger rail

[Cronos]

Almost no one owns a car, its expensive and there’s usually no place to park. Its not worth the convenience.

Depends on the city and the country.

If you live in Rome or London you don't have a car, but if you live in Poland you need a car to get around out of town as the inter-city options are bad (except for Warsaw-Krakow the rail lines are bad -- a hangover from the pre-1920 partition railways

[Cronos]

Intercity buses are starting to catch on in Germany because their fares are lower cost than the high-speed trains as well as having more flexible schedules. That’s what happens when the state owns too much. When there’s an alternative, people vote with their feet if it’s cheaper on their pockets and not state-run

Exactly. Polish inter-city roads are bad -- the highways are smaller than US city roads, and I get bus-sick, so prefer the train if I don't take the car (to Poznan or Wrocław), but the train schedules are getting worse. Except Warsaw-Krakow it is bad -- Warsaw Gdansk takes 7 hours

There is the option of a new bus -- Polskibus that is MUCH cheaper and has trains at reasonable hours and frequent

I don't understand railways tolerating this -- it's a vicious circle: the more people they lose, the more justification to reduce trains and the more justification for people to stop using trains

Government killing an industry at work...

[central_va]

In high school I knew a pom pom girl that pulled a train once. She was American.

[Cronos]

Want to see Ayer's Rock? I've heard it's a great motorcycle excursion. But is there a train that goes there?

you can go by Ghan train to Alice Springs..

[Cronos]

good points.

[Cronos]

no shower facilities? why?

[Lmo56]

No shower facilities - why?

In coach, you can use the bathroom facilities to wipe down with towels - but, I wouldn't use their water supply. I would use bottled water.

With the sleeper cars in First Class, depending on the size, you have a stand-up shower, a toilet stand-up shower [tricky to use], or there is a separate full bathroom w/full shower for use by "Firsties" [but you have to share the bathroom with others] ...

[TsonicTsunami08]

I took a 4 hour Amtrak from Deland to West Palm Beach awhile back. Next time I’ll walk. I will never ride Amtrak again , another subsidy success. /s

[Cronos]

As olog pointed out we have govt subsidies in interstate highways. And he also pointed out that government involvement is what removed the railways as an option for transportation