USA Trains
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How come trains in the USA are so "old" fashion compared to the trains in Europe? Question: Trains in France for example. Fast and smooth. In the USA the trains are slow and tracks are uneven. ( The trains sway side to side) USA trains are dirty and rail yards have a lot of crime. Why is the USA so far behind? Answer: That's the best question I have read here in a long time! I love riding trains in EU. Ridiculously efficient and you can live your entire life without even owning a car or even filling up. Of course; everybody drives a car also, but they ride trains much more frequently. Europe is leaving the USA in the dust when it comes to trains. It's a damn shame too, because I studied US History (I was a history major) and we Americans had such a rich history in railroads. USA invented Railroad time , today we know them as the 24 world time zones. USA was the first to universalize the railroad track width across an entire continent "from sea to shining sea". The railroad was instrumental in forging this nation during the industrial revolution; transporting Gold from California and Cotton from the Deep South. Transporting troops during the two World Wars and yeah, where did that desert stopover for G.I.'s called LAS VEGAS get its start? The Europeans did not have a singularly greedy car company attempting to put trains out of business. Truck transport has taken over most of the business of transporting products. I remember when I was working at 2 different GM plants, both had train tracks that hadn't been used for transport in decades! And the big reason is Big Oil. They have successfully (and extremely indirectly attributed to) hampered rail transit. I gotta tip my hat to them, they have killed all baby enemies in the womb including Nuclear power, Solar power, Mass transit, carbon fiber, you name it. All road surfaces constantly need to be resurfaced with more petroleum products. Plastics are cheaper than carbon fiber, why switch to solar power and pay $20,000 up front when my electric company burns fuel for my electricity. And they'll be damned if a mass transit system ever cuts into our oil consumption. Oh wait, we do get a bone from them: Diesel busses. But Diesel Locomotives in the USA vs. High Tensile cable-fed trains in EU just isn't fair. |
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With rising gas prices, will trains ever be a realistic alternative to flying when traveling within the USA? Question: Gas prices keep rising and now airlines are making customers pay to check their bags. Why do you think it is that in the USA we have yet to switch or at least revive our rail-system? Japan ad Europe have high speed trains and they are a great cheap alternative to flying. Of course you are going to have to fly for international travel, but imagine if Canada and the USA were connected by high speed rail! Awesome I say. Answer: The problem with rail right now is they are spending billions into infrastructure to improve what has been in states of disrepair for years due to the goverment regulation and currently very high speed "public" transportation is not a priority. Now with the sheer amount of intermodal traffic, railroads are ensuring that their rail system can handle 85 mph traffic which could be the stepping stone to high speed rail. If the govermnent wanted people to minimize driving to help ease the oil crunch along with reducing global warming, they would get funding, real funding to explore and get into motion a countrywide high speed rail service that would make sense for Americans. |
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How hard would it be to live on trains and travel the USA? Question: I want to live on trains as they pass through towns and just jump on another train, but how hard would it be to live like this? I mean live like a bum. I know it would be a hard life living like a homeless person, but I want to know how hard it would be to stay on the trains and move from train to train like how they do it. Im talking about freight trains. I would only have a backpack. Answer: Very difficult. But it can be done, there are still old timey hobos. It is not as safe as it once was but they are out there, I see them traveling. The law is not a big deal, (at least around here) if caught usually they just take you to a homeless shelter for a hot meal for the night and send you on your way. Might be a good idea to get a partner to travel with, someone to watch your back and help. It' a lonely life and not very safe, there is a different class of riders out there, google FTRA for a bit of information. We hear of dead bodies turning up along the tracks every once in awhile, rumors are that some big time gangs use freight trains for some of their drug movements, pretty hard to keep tabs on them that way. It's probably better than hitchhiking but neither one is much of a life, you can do better for yourself. |
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Is Brio done selling wooden trains in the USA? Question: I can't find more than a few scraps of leftover inventory at any store online. Are they pulling out of the US market? Are they coming back? Answer: I think they are pulling out. I've had the same experience as you. |
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Are there trains around USA that travel all over the states? Question: I am tired of driving cars or flying planes. Is there a train that will take me to lets say from Los Angeles to Colorado??? Answer: Amtrak is your best bet to see the USA, Amtrak also works with VIA Rail in Canada so you can buy your tickets from Amtrak and travel in both countries. |
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Can you still get to Mazatlan by train from the USA? Does Mexico still have any passenger trains? Question: Not including copper canyon please. Answer: Not any more all of them are cargo trains only, except of course as you said Copper Canyon. =0) Good luck |
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How do I plan a trip around the USA using only buses and trains? Question: I'm hoping to go either next summer, or the summer after - most likely from may to July. I'll be there for a total of 12 weeks. As i'll only be 18 or 19, i won't be able to rent a car or bike. So i'll be highly dependant on public transport to get me to all my destinations. Has any one got any advice on how i should plan this. Many thanks :) Answer: You might be able to rent a car. Some Rent-a-Wreck locations will do business with 18+. See the individual city information at http://www.rentawreck.com/ You can almost certainly rent a bicycle. With many more deluxe operations, you'll need to leave something of value as collateral: a drivers license, passport, or a credit card imprint. Getting around the U.S. is fairly expensive by train or bus, except for short haul (for example, just in New England). Train service is pretty sucky and expensive. Even with a multi-day pass, the limited regions, slow pace, and great expense of Amtrak makes it a non-starter except for train fans. Greyhound (bus lines) has a "Discovery Pass" that allows 7, 15, 30, or 60 consecutive days of travel. For 12 weeks, consider carefully how much traveling you'd really do. Unless you actually plan to never stop, it is usually far more suitable to travel for a few days and then stay in one area for three or more days. See http://www.discoverypass.com/products.asp for current prices. Most medium-to-long haul travel within the U.S. is by air, mostly because it is less expensive than other means—even driving. Driving might be less expensive if 2-4 people travel together and share expenses. Driving from coast to coast (Say NYC to Los Angeles) flat out is 75 hours: with say 8 hours stop for every 16 hours travel, 5 nights of lodging figure into the expenses. But flying coast to coast is 5-6 hours, so no lodging expense and much decreased food. |
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How long until bombs are found on usa busses and trains? Question: then they will scan everyone and feel them up more, then they will be told they must be micro chipped to "protect" them? then the usa govt will tell americans where they can and cant go, what they can spend money on et cetera - this is 1984 is it? alternatives? there are lots of them - reform your two party syustem, stop making wars, stop bombing people, stop invading nations, stop stealing oil - first you have to get rid of the fed bank...... Answer: |
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When if ever will the USA have high speed trains like Japan and Europe? Question: It would be a great way to travel as opposed to planes Answer: Well before Mr. Obama was elected to the Illinois State legistature, much less the Senate or Presidency... the US has been looking into High-Speed Rail systems. In fact the California High Speed Rail Authority was FORMED in 1996... The plans are mostly drawn, the State passed a budget initiative to fund construction, and yes, now it looks like we'll get additional Federal funds as part of the economic stimulus plan. THE HARD part is getting the lawyers and NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) types to stop filing lawsuits and complaining and just BUILD IT !! The PLAN is to start construction in 2010, and complete in 2020... http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/ |
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What part of the USA military trains in South Carolina? Answer: All of them US Army Basic training Fort Jackson US Marines Basic Training Parris Island US Navy Support Facility Goose Creek US Air Force Charleston Air Force Base plus the Coast Guard has units there |
