Comments on: High Speed Rail Update

By: George

George — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:08:45 +0000

It has long been established that the main difference between Europe and the USA is NOT on the use of cars, but on how trains are used compared to airplanes. In Europe there is more use of trains for long-distance travel while in the USA airplanes are the mode most people use. Since inter-city travel in both areas is mostly by car (80+%), the difference between air and rail inter-city travel is only about 6%.

By: Max

Max — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:53:32 +0000

@Iand: Nope, in Europe most people use cars, but politicians want them to use trains and light rail. Even heavily subsidized train passenger service costs are higher than a journey with your car and a friend. Only if you drive your car on your own is there a comparative advantage in taking the subsidized train system. Of course, taking a train in the first class can be cool experience since you can get stuff done while you ride a distance of several hundred km.

What would interest me would be the costs of rail construction compared to the costs of high way construction, because honestly highways have been build entirely with government subsidies in Europe.

@Chris: Indeed that is still possible, but actually I don’t like busses much though they are much cheaper, they are also a hell of a lot crampier.

@rxc: Right said. But hey, government and even do-gooders and my dad say that trains are necessary and a good thing. I suspect my dad only mentions this because he hopes more people will opt for a train so he has less congestion to deal with on the road

By: rxc

rxc — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:26:06 +0000

It could be that the trains were not full because you were not traveling during a peak period. The Brit holiday period is later in the summer, while the French holiday period started last weekend, with the hoardes heading south. I doubt many vacation in Britain, though.

We are heading up to Brussels from Bordeaux next week, and the fare comparison was” TGV – 450 euros/2 people, Air France/Ryanair – 550 euros, driving – 200 euros for diesel and tolls, and parking. We are driving to Brussels. We will have a car available to explore parts of Belgium that would be inaccessable/inconvenient by public transport, and we will be meeting 2 friends there so the car will be very useful. The hoardes of French and Germans and Dutch and Belgians who are heading south, many with their camping trailers in tow, feel the same way – a car us much cheaper and more useful than public transport when you don’t want to be constrained.

By: Allen

Allen — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:11:23 +0000

Gotta love that 18th century technology!

By: Chris Yeh

Chris Yeh — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:23:11 +0000

The enthusiasm for rail boggles the mind. For 1/10th the cost, we could provide free service with gold-plated, solar-powered buses with WiFi and complimentary mimosas.

Oh wait, I forgot, no environmentalist wants to ride a bus.

By: Ian Random

Ian Random — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:28:53 +0000

Wait, I thought in Europe everyone took mass transit. Maybe that’s why they need 6 weeks off every year, just to get across town.