Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
The only reason trains work in Europe is because they are heavily subsidized by the government.
The only reason cars work in the US is that we don't pay for all the costs of gasoline at the pump. There's a sizable military expense defending oil resources that we don't pay for with a gallon of gas.
And the road's expense are subsidized by other taxes, rather than the fuel cost. Just look at how much gas cost outside of the U.S. We subsidized the fuel, the road, and the traffic, so that it works in America.
High speed rail isn't profitable if you build it incorrectly. It is not comparable to Amtrak because Amtrak share the rail with freight train, and the route was not connecting where it needed the most. For a high speed rail to work, it must be short, connecting high population area that have the volume of passengers due to traffic congestion.
Having a high speed rail in Vegas or Alaska probably won't be a good idea, but having it along all the "cities" from L.A. to San Diego makes perfect sense.
BTW, those "links" Tempest provide to prove trains doesn't work in EU makes perfect non-sense. Minor annoyance and expense increase is nothing compare to the cost of owning a car there, including the fuel, the tax, the traffic congestion, and most importantly, the space to park them.