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Is America's quest for high-speed trains finally picking up steam? (theweek.com)
submitted 2 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Is America's quest for high-speed trains finally picking up steam?::New projects in California, Texas, and Florida are a sign that the United States is finally getting serious about modernizing its commuter railway system.

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[–] 19 points 2 years ago (1 child)

The US is really only bigger than Europe if you count Alaska. I doubt there would be high-speed rail to Alaska anytime soon.

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  • [+] -14 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

    The majority of Europe can fit into just the central area of the US. Aircraft scale better with distance and is the core reason aircraft have succeeded so well in the US despite the push for more trains for decades. It's also why you do see some trains being built in CA, FL, and the NE, as the cities there are closer together, making the idea viable.

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  • [–] 20 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    You do know that the Nordic countries are part of Europe, right? They stretch way up north past the edge of the image. They also happen to have some of the most advanced rail systems in the world.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    most advanced rail systems in the world

    As a Scandinavian: LOL

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Sure, it may not be perfect, but it tells you a lot about the state of rail in the rest of the world. It's really only places like Japan and maybe China that leads the way.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    Most of Europe and large parts of Asia has good railways compared to USA. It's not that the developed world has good railway systems, it's just that USA has a completely broken public transport system. But planes and trucks go brrr

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  • [–] 12 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Area of USA: 9,833,520 km^2

    Area of Europe: 10,180,000 km^2

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  • [+] -16 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

    Did you seriously just compare the landmass of the United States with the entire fucking CONTINENT of Europe?

    Yes...yes you did.

    If that's the comparison you want then the Area of North America is 24,474,000 sq km.

    The better comparison would be the US and the European Union. The EU is 4,422,773 km2.

    Now sit down short stack. You aren't tall enough for this ride.

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  • [+] -16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    I don't think Europeans understand what space is. They are all crammed in together like tuna.

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  • [+] 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
    [removed by mod]
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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    Nice rant. I was born and raised in a "third world country" with better transportation than the US despite much lower density. In fact it would rank just under Oregon, so 39 stated are more dense than my country.

    California does not have good public transportation, neither does a lot of the East Coast, for that matter. I have lived on both coasts and the Midwest, and visited over 35 states. Public transportation is mostly crap with a few exceptions in the core of a few Metro areas, and the NE.

    Public transportation advocates want more than to add buses and trains, you are misrepresenting what we ask for.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I have, on numerous occasions, had to throw water on European's plans to visit all of the big sites in the US in one visit. Wanting to see the Grand Canyon, the Everglades and DC in the same visit is not terribly practical. My advice has been to pick a region and see everything there. Pick a different region of the US on your next visit.

    What was throwing them off was a day-trip can drive across several European countries, but will only get you through a few states in the US.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago

    On the other hand, I have, on numerous occasions, had to throw water on American's plans to visit big sites in Europe in one visit. "Let's do Amsterdam and Copenhagen and then Paris, Rome, and Barcelona." In one week. Yeah, not gonna happen.

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