Do you think that England has better trains than the USA? Please answer =)?

Question

England has high speed, high tech electric traction passenger trains. America has noisy, old fashoined, dusty old deisel traction trains. Which do you think is better?

Answer 1

Why is there such a fascination with maglev trains here? Japan has one test track. To read some answers you would think the whole network was so designed. But to answer the question. Yes, of course the UK (not England, please, that is only one country - it is like calling the USA by the name of one of its states only) has a better railway system than the USA. All major centres of population are connected by regular, in most cases, high speed (100mph +), services. Not the whole system is electrified, but where it is not the services are provided by modern (30 year old in the case of the InterCity 125) diesel trains.

Answer 2

The UK network is mostly diesel. Most routes around London are electric, with the main routes to the North and Scotland (baring the far north) being electric as well.

There are signs that the Department of Transport might be coming round to the idea of converting more lines to Electric. But they are only interested in projects that can 'payback' in 10 years. (30 years is the accepted norm for such schemes both under BR and Abroad). The Treasury is also reluctant to bankroll anything that might reduce car usage and the tax income that motoring brings

So all is not rosy, the UK is better then the US, but a long way behind Germany and Switzerland

Answer 3

Not really!...the fast London to Paris line is specialised and very restricted on where you can board it!...its also a lot more expensive to use...as for the normal commuter trains I think we have a lot of overcrowding and un-reliabilities to over come...this accounts for the country becoming congested with millions of car owners!...all trying to get to work!...our Public transport system has become useless since privatisation years ago!...we need to learn from our european friends esp.Berlin and Athens where transport is so cheap and plentifull!...it makes using the car far too expensive!...in comparison...

Answer 4

I havent been on a american train but only seen them on telly i think the american ones are better we used to have great trains when the steam ones were in action not now we have the diesel rubbish ones.

Answer 5

Japan has maglev trains =D

Answer 6

England has a much better system - faster and a very dense frequent network serving the whole country. For example our second city Birmingham has two separate lines to London each running every 30 minutes, Brighton a major town on the south coast of England has 6 trains per hour to London via Gatwick Airport,  as well  as frequent services to local destinations.  www.nationalrail.co.uk

Answer 7

Europe is way ahead of the curve for passenger trains...