Passenger trains in the United States vs Europe.

[chrislognshot]

[martix_agent]

Is the map scale 1:1?

[Grendel]

lol, nope not even close to 1:1

Train use in EU is definitely easier and has better coverage then over here but.....

[Grendel]

[Magmoormaster]

Yeah the lack of rail use, both passenger and freight, here in the US is disturbing. The automobile industry did so much damage in the early half of the century, it's really sad and irritating that we rely so much on long distance trucking when trains are ~40% more efficient. And considering how much the efficiencies stack with passenger trains, it's doubly frustrating.

[Jonnydread]

The early auto industry really effed us man, we had electric rail cars and all sorts of other cool developing stuff and Big Auto put a stop to that right quick.

[Axel]

Hey, watch it, bub.

Signed,
Big Trucking

[martix_agent]

Yeah the lack of rail use, both passenger and freight, here in the US is disturbing. The automobile industry did so much damage in the early half of the century, it's really sad and irritating that we rely so much on long distance trucking when trains are ~40% more efficient. And considering how much the efficiencies stack with passenger trains, it's doubly frustrating.

This map only includes passenger rail, which is pretty pathetic, but a whole lot of stuff is shipped by train on industrial rail; It's something the country absolutely utilizes.

[iamthelazerviking]

I've ridden on one of our few railways, Utah to Virginia. NEVER AGAIN.

[Hp_lovecraft]

That widely distributed image has been debunked a while ago. The top is just the amtrak routes, ignoring all the non-amtrak commuter trains that nearly every major city has.
The europe image also includes freight, commuter, and other short distance transit.

Its apples to oranges. that said, most of the USA rail is owned privately by freight companies. Most of european rail is owned by the countries themselves. And they tax fuel specifically for force people unto using mass transit. A very different situation. For many americans, its cheaper, and more enjoyable to drive then take the train

[Levi]

This map only includes passenger rail, which is pretty pathetic, but a whole lot of stuff is shipped by train on industrial rail; It's something the country absolutely utilizes.

According to this, the US rail system moves 5000 ton-miles of freight per person per year. Compared to only 500 in the EU.

https://www.masterresource.org/railroads/us-most-advanced-rail-world/

I know the OP was about passenger trains... so I'll point out that any train is a passenger train if you're brave enough

[Tippster]

Every now and then I talk to someone about this. When I was stationed in Europe I didn't even have a car, used taxis to get to the train stations basically. Definitely miss the ease of it.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

I've ridden on one of our few railways, Utah to Virginia. NEVER AGAIN.

It just takes way too long and not cheaper than flying right? That and sharing space with the general public. .

[iamthelazerviking]

I also hate flying but we flew back and got refunded the return train trip lol. If you go by yourself I'm sure it's cheap. A family with a room, not so much

[Jonnydread]

I took a train in Kenya from Nairobi to Mombasa and it was far nicer than any of the trains I've taken in the US. I enjoy rail travel, I just wish Murica was set up better for it.

[chrislognshot]

It just takes way too long and not cheaper than flying right? That and sharing space with the general public. .

yes. but also prove that major city's in usa never want to build good railroad system for people to use. they instead want to many people be able to drive and get place. i been European back in 1991. they have setup so you do not need to drive to get to place. city had way better way to get around city then we do. also main reason we have major traffic on highways and other place. the auto industry want us to drive more then take trains.

[chrislognshot]

Yeah the lack of rail use, both passenger and freight, here in the US is disturbing. The automobile industry did so much damage in the early half of the century, it's really sad and irritating that we rely so much on long distance trucking when trains are ~40% more efficient. And considering how much the efficiencies stack with passenger trains, it's doubly frustrating.

that was main issue city did not want to invest in rail systems they want cars all over road. also could not get bus system and rail system to work hand and hand too. the auto industry got city's not to spend money on it. since cost to make and easier to have cards and roads only.

[Hp_lovecraft]

the auto industry got city's not to spend money on it. since cost to make and easier to have cards and roads only.

The issue in america is that, by law, rails are treated different then roads. Roads are publicly owned, publicly funded. Government can emminent doman themselves more roads whenever they wnat. Roads are considered infrastructure.

The rail right-of-way is private, and they have to PAY taxes for that. The story I've always heard is that back in the 30s and 40s, the military started seeing the rails as a liability that could easily be bombed, so laws and money were directed towards roads and highways, and away from rails. Unlike much of Europe, which treated rail like infrastructure, and was practically crippled during ww2.

I do love riding the rails. I've been everywhere between maine, chicago, DC, and in between. But that area is extremely well developed by rail. Outside of that, rail is treated more like cruiseships on rails. and I don't think that should be substiduzed

[Axel]

I like rail when I can get it. We've taken the train from Harrisburg to New York a couple times, but for 80% of the trips I make rail is not even an option and for the other 19.9% it's not economical or time efficient.