Posted on 03/25/2024 9:14:17 PM PDT by thecodont
My point is that the FRA overregulates, particularly on the passenger rail side of things. Not only when it comes to track geometry, but also to what they call “crashworthiness” of railcars. That’s why it becomes too expensive for a private company to operate (unless they are politically well connected, like with Brightline); this is by design, so that only government agencies run them, and only as much as they feel like operating.
Private railroads were attempting to develop high-speed trains on their own, before they were not only hit with punitive regulations and taxation, but federal and state governments gave regulatory and tax breaks (and even tax subsidy) to competing modes at the same time.
Point well taken!
Probably why US railroads are in the pitiful state they are right now.
Long, long time ago, US railroads were the best, the envy of the world.
Obviously they lost a lot due to competition with vehicles and plains.
But US railroads are now like the worst in the world! Even India has better railroads now!
Amtrak is a disgrace, and even the freight trains seem to move with snail speed, a lot slower than in Europe!
Nothing goes on time, I see trains standing for days in the same spot, they move with snail speed,...
I guess, regulation and taxation are the problems?
My point is, that we do not need bullet trains on separate tracks, but well maintained, traditional railroad is able to go pretty fast, and they are able to keep the schedule.
But that needs some work, which is obviously lacking in the USA!
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