Planes are a lot faster and taking a train from Europe to the USA for example is going to be a bit tricky. Perhaps planes themselves are not the issue. We just need to figure out another way to power them.
Obviously there are things that just need to fly. But dependable, high frequency, fast intercity rail will greatly reduce our dependence on air travel. Even a reduction of 20-40% is worth it.
Superconducting maglev trains can currently go about 70% the cruising speed of a 737, and could take you directly into a city center rather than an airport on the outskirts.
Also, price isn’t only a function of supply and demand. We also choose to subsidize fossil fuels with public funds, to make them artificially cheaper.
Yeah if it didn’t cost me 3 or 4 times as much and take a week instead of 5 hours I would much rather take a train than fly home across the country
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Rail is for cargo not people in north America. More money moving cargo than humans.
Planes are a lot faster and taking a train from Europe to the USA for example is going to be a bit tricky. Perhaps planes themselves are not the issue. We just need to figure out another way to power them.
Obviously there are things that just need to fly. But dependable, high frequency, fast intercity rail will greatly reduce our dependence on air travel. Even a reduction of 20-40% is worth it.
Superconducting maglev trains can currently go about 70% the cruising speed of a 737, and could take you directly into a city center rather than an airport on the outskirts.
Also, price isn’t only a function of supply and demand. We also choose to subsidize fossil fuels with public funds, to make them artificially cheaper.
I understand why the trains suck. I would love to make them better.