by Steamguy73
electricron wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 6:46 am That's entirely a misquote. Here is the entire quote, with the cavat proceeding that quote putting it into context.First of all, the disparity is not as large as you’re making. Most people are probably going to make several stops during that time not just to get food but to use the bathroom, stretch out the legs, potentially get some gas etc.
Going over 15 mph slower on average is a loosing proposition. The only people riding that train do not own an automobile, are too lazy to drive that far, or wish to sight see from the train as they ride by as a tourist..
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Is there any other reason to ride a train that averages 15 mph slower than driving your own car?
If you can name one, state it.
And please do not even suggest it is cheaper for a typical family of four to pay fares to ride a train than driving their own car.
If a trip between Chicago and Minneapolis is say 6 hours and 15 minutes non stop, I’d probably add about an hour to that to account for other stops. The speed disparity in that case is probably half of what you’re saying it is.
The biggest issue with train travel is that there’s often too many steps that are necessary to actually use a train and effectively maneuver in the place you’ve now gone to: issues that high speed will not fix. Ok you’re there to your destination, how are you going to traverse there?
Cars will always have fewer steps necessary. That’s why they’re going to be preferred in most cases. Regardless of speed, it’s cheaper, and easier to travel using a car than not. And you’re only depending on you.
You want Amtrak to really become a better service patroned by more people? They need to do several things:
1. Invest in some speed increases but not focusing on all of the HSR crap. You can get to speeds similar to what the Milwaukee road had in the 60’s and that’s quite competitive with the pace of most modern drivers. That’s more than enough. HSR is a money laundering scam.
2. Reliability. Services need to be on time or close to that. Ik that’s not always an Amtrak cause but still.
3. Clean, comfortable, quiet service. Self explanatory.
4. More service times. Give options to people, more people will take the trains if they had the options to ride at other times.
5. Get Amtrak to partner with ride sharing programs along with local public transport. Give discounts to Amtrak riders who take Ubers or Lyfts.