http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/comment-page-1/#comment-8889 Adi Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:51:03 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/#comment-8889 Being European, and having lived in the US for quite some time now, I can only fully agree to the benefits, convenience and pleasure of train travel. However, looking at Amtrak, the North East corridor, and the plan to link LA with Sacramento in California, certain factors become very obvious which will continue to be a big challenge to overcoming the acceptance and growth of rail travel in this country: a) Unlike in Europe, where you have an impressive network that connects a gazillion cities via train, there is no comprehensive passenger rail network in the US. b) Most of the train stations are not really conveniently located or effectively connected to other public transit systems to make getting to and fro places easy. c) Passenger train time schedules are notoriously unreliable, since freight trains always have the right of way. (apart from Amtrak in the North East? d) Once you are arriving at the rail station at your destination, now what? How do you get to places, esp. in the massive urban and suburban sprawls? e) Taking the train to and from work is nice if you conveniently located close to rail heads and stops, but getting to them and then to your work location is, at minimum, a major hassle, doubling or tripling your commute time, and, at maximum, impossible, considering the existing transportation infrastructure. (I tried from SF to Silicon Valley). f) The proposed rail line in CA, between SAC and LA, and LA to SF, with a few stops in between, and a major detour in order to get from SF to SAC, is designed to simplify the life of politicians and lobbyists to commute between LA and SAC, it won't remove a single every day commuter from the current freeway traffic patterns, in my opinion. Dreaming of a TGV network in this country ... Being European, and having lived in the US for quite some time now, I can only fully agree to the benefits, convenience and pleasure of train travel. However, looking at Amtrak, the North East corridor, and the plan to link LA with Sacramento in California, certain factors become very obvious which will continue to be a big challenge to overcoming the acceptance and growth of rail travel in this country:
a) Unlike in Europe, where you have an impressive network that connects a gazillion cities via train, there is no comprehensive passenger rail network in the US.
b) Most of the train stations are not really conveniently located or effectively connected to other public transit systems to make getting to and fro places easy.
c) Passenger train time schedules are notoriously unreliable, since freight trains always have the right of way. (apart from Amtrak in the North East?
d) Once you are arriving at the rail station at your destination, now what? How do you get to places, esp. in the massive urban and suburban sprawls?
e) Taking the train to and from work is nice if you conveniently located close to rail heads and stops, but getting to them and then to your work location is, at minimum, a major hassle, doubling or tripling your commute time, and, at maximum, impossible, considering the existing transportation infrastructure. (I tried from SF to Silicon Valley).
f) The proposed rail line in CA, between SAC and LA, and LA to SF, with a few stops in between, and a major detour in order to get from SF to SAC, is designed to simplify the life of politicians and lobbyists to commute between LA and SAC, it won’t remove a single every day commuter from the current freeway traffic patterns, in my opinion.
Dreaming of a TGV network in this country …

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/comment-page-1/#comment-8888 Chris Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:40:48 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/#comment-8888 How interesting to hear views from a city. In rural Iowa, you don't stop to think of such stuff, and yet it sounds so reasonable! Good job! How interesting to hear views from a city. In rural Iowa, you don’t stop to think of such stuff, and yet it sounds so reasonable! Good job!

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/comment-page-1/#comment-8887 Anonymous Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:56:56 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/#comment-8887 great post! great post!

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/comment-page-1/#comment-8886 Janet Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:31:09 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/eurotrip-in-the-u-s/#comment-8886 I love this idea. But am really glad that I live in the Midwest. Too bad for those that live in the western US! Imagine getting to Chicago without the interstate! I love this idea. But am really glad that I live in the Midwest. Too bad for those that live in the western US! Imagine getting to Chicago without the interstate!

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