Why can't we have superfast trains in the US like they do in France and Japan?

Question

Why can't we have superfast trains in the US like they do in France and Japan?

Answer 1

I think it's an issue of the government not being involved in funding that kind of venture, as train service here is more of a private enterprise than in Europe and Asia. It would definitely be cool though if it was cheap enough to ride..

Answer 2

Up until the early 20th Century, the Northeast Corridor was the most populated corridor in the USA.

After WW II, the growth of the Interstate Highway System and the Airplane system allowed people to fan out throughout the entire country.  Freight trains transported bulk goods along with 18 wheelers.  Also remember that gasoline was cheap and plentiful and the skies were cheap and uncrowded.  Passenger train service was slow and a joke until Amtrak replaced local passenger service.

Now that America suffered from a terrorist attack, the skies are expensive and crowded and gasoline is no longer cheap and plentiful, there are some rumblings to building high speed train lines in places where car transit and plane transit are prohibitive and congested.  

In the late 90's. the government extended electrification from New Haven to Boston and improved the tracks by removing numerous curves and elevating graded crossings.  Taking a train from DC to Boston requires only 6.5 hours which is faster than driving and just as convenient as flying thanks to downtown to downtown service.

In 2006, Amtrak and Pennsylvania upgraded service along the Keystone Line allowing for 90 minute travel between Harrisburg and Philly at speeds up to 110 MPH.

Michigan and Amtrak are close to having a high speed line constructed.  Pittsburgh may build a demonstration MAGLEV line but economists are warning that no one is willing to pay $50 to travel 20 miles one-way.

So, there is some demand for high speed passenger train service.  The government is listening but the entrenched interests in highways, planes and freight trains do not want competition from passenger trains.  Amtrak only owns 500 miles of track with 90% of that track in the Northeast Corridor.  Building new tracks, stations and infrastructure would cost Tens and Hundreds of Billions with no guaranteed return on investment.

Answer 3

You forgot Germany too.

There is too much red tape in this country.

Answer 4

The only difference between those countries and the U.S. is publicity.  The French and Japanese systems are WELL KNOWN.  

That is the only difference.  Our trains are within 20% of the speed of their trains.  Mind you, they run their trains on brand new track custom built for high speed rail. We run ours on existing track which has been upgraded in increments, which speaks well of how well the track was built in the first place!  

There was no monster-huge $50 billion project to create totally new service -- so no spectacular publicity -- which is why even Americans don't know about it.

Now, California has been debating for years whether to build a new, purpose-built high speed rail system like the TGV.  But the only reason they're contemplating building new is to cross mountains heretofore impassible by conventional railroads.

Now, if you're proposing supertrains on 1000+ mile routes, that's lame - even the Europeans don't do that.   If anyone *would* do it, it would be America.

Answer 5

americans are to cool to take the train we would rather fly

Answer 6

One excuse for this unfortunate problem: due to the large size of the country and the population being so spread out, air travel is more convenient for business trips rather than rail.  Most people would rather fly from D.C to Los Angeles rather than ride a train there.

Answer 7

Because the investment in this type of transportation system is not economic to the metropolitan layout of the U.S. If many, many people needed transportation to and from the same locations repeatedly, like in Japan, then we might see that. Its more cost effective to utilize telecommuting technologies rather then transportation technologies.

Answer 8

Well there are three main reasons, already mentioned in other answers.

1.  The Railways in the united states are prioritised for slower and heavier goods trains.  So the railway lines were not built with high speed trains in mind.  Easily overcome however by realigning the railway itself.  (Adjusting the route of the railway to be as straight or flat as possible.)  Which was done in Australia, now we have our own high speed train, the tilt train.  www.tilttrain.com.au

2.  Americans love cars!  The car is not King in the united states, it's higher than that.  But no words come to mind without being blasphemous.   Without the cars (or trucks) the railway would still be transporting people (and freight) like it did in the 30's and 40's.

3.  In the united states, there are many very large cities, and it would be difficult to compete with the many cheap airlines, no matter where it would be located.  Many Rail services were reduced in Australia when the Australian Discout airline Virgin Blue began flying.

However, you do have fast trains in the US, the acela (if it's still running) travels between New York and Boston at up to 200km/h.  That's pretty fast eh'!

Answer 9

There are too many big cities in the USA, so a route would be hard to figure out. Also, people in America can fly Southwest or other discount airlines which are cheaper than mag-lev trains (that's what you're talking about I assume). They cost a butt-load of money to build, and Americans don't take mass transit even if it is economical.

Answer 10

Well, a faster train would mean a longer walk out of the woods.

Answer 11

If one could overcome public apathy, and come up with the cash, it may be do-able.  But the good citizens of the US aren't about to give up their cars until they can no longer afford to put any fuel in the tank.

Answer 12

actually we do. there is only one and its located over in the new york/ new jersey area, its currently the only train in the u.s. that goes over 100 mph

Answer 13

I totally agree with you on this subject.

Why can't we have better public transportation system like they do in Europe?

Hopefully the USA will one day realise that is where we need to spend billions of dollars on, to catch up with European modes of Transportation.....

Answer 14

restrictions - superfast trains need straight lines - shallow curves

and too many of us try to beat the trains - and don't get out alive