Bullet Train System....

[LineSkiCat14]

Good point.. Europe is substantially smaller than the U.S.

90% of Europe can fit into the Northeast or Southeast. Going from one country to the next would be like driving state to state here.. maybe even less.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

You could get the broad-strokes of Europe going 70mph in a car, in less than 24 hours. Similar to driving a circle around the Northeast, but that leaves out 75% of the US.

 

[vhcat70]

Population density is one good reason.

In Asia and parts of Europe there is huge population density. Lots of people trying to get from one mega-city to another nearby mega-city. In these here United States we're all spread out. We like a little elbow room. Trains do work well in our high population areas in the east. New York, Philly, DC, Boston. Connect all those areas with trains and we're set. Outside of that we're just too spread out for it to be cost effective.

Someone who understands the difference. And then where we have high densities, they are mostly distant from each other.

BTW, be thankful the US has the wide open (relatively) spaces it has. Not many inhabitable places on earth do.

 

[We-Todd-Did]

This thread makes me think of this video:

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I guess I'm older because any mention of train makes a little voice in my brain yell "Soooooouulll Train!".

 

[mashburned]

I just wanna know why folks are obsessed with being like Europe. Younger folks especially are quick to throw out a "well Europe does this...". Mf'ers do you know what Europe is? GAY AF.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

Fastest train is 374 mph. That was to set a record though, they don't go that fast normally.

 

[LadyCat92]

Infrastructure investment is the barrier to entry. I lived in Asia and used the trains a lot and loved it but I didn't have a car, so it gave me a lot of freedom that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I used them in Europe while traveling on business and the experience was positive. I've taken 30+ business trips via plane this year and if you could get me from Lexington to Miami is just a few hours with nothing more than a 15 min stop in ATL, I'd take the train in a heartbeat. You have a lot more freedom to move around in trains, while full they don't feel as crowded, you don't have all of the luggage issues, etc.

I don't think we'll ever see it in the USA, but I'd love to have it.

 

[AustinTXCat]

Totally agree with LadyCat. 3 years ago, my brother and I rode Deutsche Bahn ICE trains extensively. Here in the USA, I usually ride Amtrak 2-3x yearly in Texas or FL.

Acela Express operates in the northeast. While the train is not Euro or Asian quick, it's at least a step in the right direction. Another "high-speed" rail initiative, All Aboard Florida, is currently in progress for a line connecting Orlando with Miami. The route calls for 235 mile trips in 3 hours, and should commence operations in 2017. Station construction/expansion on both ends has already begun.

 

[trueblujr]

America is too cheap or to invest in something of that magnitude. Plus there would be some activist group trying to protect some frog species that might get displaced by the route.