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Why U.S. rail travel is so expensive

Excellent! Build some more HSRs. Another few Chinese trillions down the drain is good for USA too. :D
We always do, do you even check the news?

Using the DID method, we find the HSR network promoted local GDP by approximately 3.3 percentage points. The introduction of HSR service helped cities attract more industrial enterprises and achieve more industrial output, but its effect on the service sector was not pronounced.
 
Another hint: China cannot afford enough airplanes and it cannot build enough of them itself. Rails are far easier.
If they had put the R&D money on high efficiency transport planes (Turboprops), they would be at the sweet spot of faster travel and stronger aircraft industry. Somebody higher up fell in love with the Chu Chu probably looking at the Japanese Shinkansen (1964 technology) and French TGV (1974 technology) and spent many years developing the high-speed train technology.
 
Only fools just judge HSR by ticket money

Highlights​



HSR had impacts on socio-economic, territorial and transport systems in several countries.

The paper analyses the impacts induced by HSR services in Italy after ten years of operation.

Italy represents the first case of competitive HSR market without public subsidies.

Competition between HSR operators brought a significant decrease in ticket prices (-40%)

HSR passengers/year passed from 15 to 45 millions (+200%) in 10 years.

HSR contributed, in 10 years, to an increase of the rail-based transport accessibility up to + 30%

HSR contributed to an extra growth of per capita GDP of + 2.6–5.6% in 10 years.

Regional equity in terms of travel time accessibility decreased by 11% in 10 years.

Extension of the HSR network would increase accessibility (+18%), economic growth (+3.6%) and equity (+49%)
 
If they had put the R&D money on high efficiency transport planes (Turboprops), they would be at the sweet spot of faster travel and stronger aircraft industry. Somebody higher up fell in love with the Chu Chu probably looking at the Japanese Shinkansen (1964 technology) and French TGV (1974 technology) and spent many years developing the high-speed train technology.

Shhhhhh! Let them do it! ;)
 
Another hint: China cannot afford enough airplanes and it cannot build enough of them itself. Rails are far easier.
Airplane and HSR cost about the same in China, HSR is more convenient, it's just a preferred choice for most passangers. There are also many people in China travel by air and many by car, but overall, HSR is the number one choice by most people due to many advantages.

air passenger.png

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China started to built HSR about 20 years ago, and during the past 20 years everyone who is not blind can see how great a contribution HSR made to China economy in both central level and local levels.

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China started to built HSR about 20 years ago, and during the past 20 years everyone who is not blind can see how great a contribution HSR made to China economy in both central level and local levels.

And anybody who has a few brain cells can see that is has already burned up a trillion dollars, with more losses to come. Good news for USA! :D
 
And anybody who has a few brain cells can see that is has already burned up a trillion dollars, with more losses to come. Good news for USA! :D
LOl, good for US and good for China, we are both happy, HSR already showed how they helped China's economy in the past 2 decades, our economy is all about fast connectivity, very happy to know China's HSR can make both of us happy.
 
As I have already said above, this is a win-win for both China and USA. See, we can agree on some things. :D
Ok, cheers, for the Chinese HSR

Two 350km/h china High Speed Rail Fuxing Trains meet
 
Only fools just judge HSR by ticket money

Highlights​


The paper analyses the impacts induced by HSR services in Italy after ten years of operation.

their longest line wouldn't even connect Boston to NYC.

longestHSRLinesInItaly.png



HSRLine.png



You have to understand the distances between our high population areas are much further than Italy's or even China's. In fact it is twice as far as China's.

populationDensityChina.png

distance1.png

Beijing Shenzhen High Speed Train Route
It is 2409 kilometers (1,497miles) long and travels for 8 hours 45 minutes to 11 hours from north to south China.

populationDensityUSA.png

distance2.png

Now imagine that 8 to 11 hour train ride DOUBLED to 16 hours to 22 hours to go between New York City port to an LA port..

The problem with the Chinese here is they just can't comprehend the distances people in the US typically travel compared to the Chinese.

NYCToOrlando.png

This is a heavy flight route. NYC to Orlando.
 
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This is not unusual for the US.

Even in Europe trains are usually more expensive than planes.

Here is what Germans say about their rail system:
Everybody who thinks rail is some miracle should listen closely to what she says. She even says people are taking long range buses instead of trains because they are much cheaper.

Why is Flying Cheaper Than Taking a Train in Europe?​

"It took awhile for me to wrap my head around the fact that plane travel within Europe is often the cheaper option for getting from Point A to Point B, train travel being the more expensive option."



This perpetual talk by Chinese members over and over and over how trains are the best method is just a myth.

Yes, if almost all of your population is crammed into one side of your country due to a desert then it works out well. However when the busiest travel distance is 4,000 km (like it is in the US) a train is not going to work out well.

Both the US and Europe having had commercial airline makers for decades serving the public need. People simply see trains as old technology especially when jet airlines started appearing in the late 1950's.

For Euro 100, it's considered cheap if your monthly salary is Euro 2000-3000.

In developing or poor countries, the ticket can be USD 50-70, and your monthly salary is just USD 100-200.
 

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