8 ms·
Is that not similar to both the west and east coasts of the US?
by ladberg 5mo ago
Is that not similar to both the west and east coasts of the US?
- SeanLuke 5mo agoIt's true to some degree now. But it wasn't very true -- or expected to be true -- back when train lines were being established. That was during westward expansion.
- delecti 5mo agoWRT the west coast, mostly. It's about as long as Japan, but only about half the population. It's certainly populated enough that it's not justifiable that rail travel is so slow. Less so for the east coast though. From roughly DC to Boston is decently connected with rail, but is not nearly as direct of a corridor as Japan.
- the__alchemist 5mo agoThe east coast ("Amtrak") rail blows. Expensive, and slow.
- ghaff 5mo agoReally? Take it all the time going to NYC even though it's not really very convenient for me to get to a northern station. Amtrak is priced to make it a good idea to book tickets in advance. Shinkansen isn't cheap either, especially if you don't have a pass--not sure of current details.
- 9x39 5mo agoCars were already popular in the US and good enough of a solution in conjunction with the highway system, maybe. If basic transportation is solved, it probably reduces the impetus to build passenger rail for rail's sake.
- weberer 5mo agoThe Northeast Corridor in the USA has great rail service. Its the best way to travel between DC and NYC.
- ladberg 5mo agoI'm very aware! I live in NYC and have taken many trains up/down the corridor. But it still pales in comparison to the experience I get in Japan (which is cheaper, nicer, faster, more frequent, often more direct, connects up better to local transit within cities, etc.)