World Trade Center Denver’s Post

Quite the map, of course the intercity subway systems in US cities not shown here

Innocent misinformation but misinformation nonetheless and shows how narratives can get distorted even with the best intentions. The US rail system is freight based. Passenger trains in the US (largely) run on freight lines. In Europe, the lines were built FOR passengers, not freight. Now look at the map. Look where US ports are. That train system makes sense. The US connects ports to distribution centers. In Europe, the trains connect cities. Big difference. It also explains why the US tracks are so beat up and passenger trains have odd schedules (working around freight schedules). Yet a narrative can distort reality and impact opinions.

Amazing Maps Passenger trains in the United States vs Europe

Average speed of trains in Europe

Average speed of trains in Europe

German train to stations on time is at 56%. For the last couple years, the trains have been a hit or miss for me which I classify as unreliable. https://lnkd.in/evNYT2r7

Average speed of trains in Europe.

Passenger rail in Europe vs the USA

We 've been discussing for years how Europe is trying to ditch planes for trains. Progress includes rail partnerships and internal flight restrictions, though changes have limited impact. The shift is slow, with ongoing debates about the effectiveness and future regulations. On top of that, will consumers opt in for a longer commute at a comparable price? (5/9 routes that the FT compared had pretty similar prices). Credits to the Financial Times and OneChart 📊 🧳 🚗 for the info.

In May 2023 a short haul flight ban in France requires hops of less than 150 minutes to be replaced by suitable rail travel to reduce regional emissions. Electrifying flight can get those short hops back and reduce traffic. The US needs better rail service. https://lnkd.in/eVbQ55aE