Are US trains really that bad? It's complicated
December 11th, 2018
December 9, 2018 - cnet.com - by Geoffrey Morrison -
With limited routes and low-speed diesel locomotives, train travel in the US seems far behind the rest of the world. That's not going to change anytime soon.
Compared to other wealthy nations, passenger trains in the US seem to lag far behind. Recently I covered Amtrak and CalTrans' unveil of a next-generation locomotive called the Charger, and the comments surrounding the article on social media were surprisingly negative. Though they came from all sides, the common refrain was that train travel in the US is bad.
But is it? And if so, why? The answers to both those questions is frustratingly complex. Complex enough that those both sides of the argument are a little bit right, and a little bit wrong. That always makes for "fun" conversations on the internet, so let's dive in.
Read more: https://www.cnet.com/news/are-us-trains-really-that-bad-its-complicated/
With limited routes and low-speed diesel locomotives, train travel in the US seems far behind the rest of the world. That's not going to change anytime soon.
Compared to other wealthy nations, passenger trains in the US seem to lag far behind. Recently I covered Amtrak and CalTrans' unveil of a next-generation locomotive called the Charger, and the comments surrounding the article on social media were surprisingly negative. Though they came from all sides, the common refrain was that train travel in the US is bad.
But is it? And if so, why? The answers to both those questions is frustratingly complex. Complex enough that those both sides of the argument are a little bit right, and a little bit wrong. That always makes for "fun" conversations on the internet, so let's dive in.
Read more: https://www.cnet.com/news/are-us-trains-really-that-bad-its-complicated/