The difference is because in America, there's 2(3) countries. In Europe, you travel between ~10 countries. The budget/mentality is different since you operate in international level with international import/exports.
Wouldn't the hassle in coordinating things across multiple countries be much higher?
Not sure why anyone would make excuses for the US on trains. There are some great opportunities to get it right. Or ignore it and wait for automated bus services.
Yes, and international trains are not where the European network shines. It's getting better, but it has historically been hard to even figure out how to buy a ticket involving multiple countries. Deutsche Bahn is one of the better ones. If you originate or terminate in Germany, their booking engine can figure out how to get you to a neighboring country (and they actually have these countries' timetables in their system, too). But if you want to go through Germany, say from France to Poland, good luck getting that booked, unless you split it into two tickets, each terminating in Germany.
Specific through services make it easier a few routes, such as the CityNightLine sleeper services, since there is one train and one operator for the whole route.
Not excuses, just maths. I'm not a US citizen. But I'm canadian. And my province has tried to get high speed train through the border, but the economics never added up.
That's the problem with N. America, airplanes are cheaper for our geographic situation. Because routes are not set in stone, they can be changed as the demand adjusts itself.
When you lay out train track, you can't change your mind in 20 years or you need to change your infrastructure.
"in America there's 2(3) countries" - I'm curious what you are referring to here - Canada, US, and Mexico or "regions of the United States". The article appears to be merely talking about the United States.
prawn|10 years ago
Not sure why anyone would make excuses for the US on trains. There are some great opportunities to get it right. Or ignore it and wait for automated bus services.
_delirium|10 years ago
Specific through services make it easier a few routes, such as the CityNightLine sleeper services, since there is one train and one operator for the whole route.
pothibo|10 years ago
That's the problem with N. America, airplanes are cheaper for our geographic situation. Because routes are not set in stone, they can be changed as the demand adjusts itself.
When you lay out train track, you can't change your mind in 20 years or you need to change your infrastructure.
DiThi|10 years ago
Not much more than across US states. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement
(although as someone else commented, it's not easy to get trains going through more than one border).
> Or ignore it and wait for automated bus services.
Buses won't reach 330 km/h (210 mph, speed of trains made in my country, Spain).
chadgeidel|10 years ago
unknown|10 years ago
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