I had some vacation time and I’ve never ridden a train before, so I thought I’d look it up. I’d seen a few YouTube videos and it looked like something I’d like. I’m not a fan of air travel at all.

I went to look up tickets and was shocked at the price. I could drive for cheaper and faster including my own stops. I could fly for cheaper and faster and wouldn’t have to pay for a sleeper car or hotel. It seems like there’s no benefit to taking a train at all. Even the hassle of flying is worth the time and money saved.

Ps and why does a sleeper car (the thing that had me curious from YouTube) $1000/night?!

  • dustyData@lemmy.world
    391·
    17 hours ago

    Because in the US, freight and passengers share rail. Most of the civilized world segregated both to ensure massive transit priority. The USA did the opposite because freight brings in more profit. And all the railways are private owned, so profit overules public interest.

    • BeardedBlaze@lemmy.world
      5·
      5 hours ago

      I used to be a freight conductor for BNSF. Amtrak always gets priority.

      Also, unless you’re talking high-speed rail, freight and pax share track in most civilized world.

    • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
      14·
      11 hours ago

      Most of the civilized world segregated both to ensure massive transit priority.

      I don’t think that’s accurate. Lots of europe at least share tracks. But passenger trains get priority. In the US, freight gets priority.

      Also, the freight companies own the track and the land its on.

      • hikaru755@lemmy.world
        0·
        6 hours ago

        I believe in Germany at least, freight gets priority at night, and passenger gets priority in daytime

        • sns@fedinsfw.appEnglish
          2·
          6 hours ago

          Unfortunately it’s operated by Deutsche Bahn, so you won’t notice anything about daytime priority.