The US is a first-world nation with a third-world rail system

[OIO]

Most people have their own cars thus the need for passenger trains is pretty low.

Cars, aviation and high-speed rail complement each other. China's high-speed rail tickets are more expensive than air tickets, and many people still choose high-speed rail. If the high-speed rail journey exceeds 3 hours, I will choose the plane. With the localization of passenger aircraft, China's aviation will surpass that of the United States.

 

[beijingwalker]

Cars, aviation and high-speed rail complement each other. China's high-speed rail tickets are more expensive than air tickets, and many people still choose high-speed rail. If the high-speed rail journey exceeds 3 hours, I will choose the plane. With the localization of passenger aircraft, China's aviation will surpass that of the United States.

China just completed the world biggest and second biggest airports in just one years, modern airports spring up everywhere in China even in remote counties in Pamir Plateau and it's super easy and cheap with up to date technology, but still much more people choose to take HSR, it's way more conveinent and comfortable than flying.

 

[KAL-EL]

Possible circle jerk alert

 

[OIO]

China just completed the world biggest and second biggest airports in just one years, modern airports spring up everywhere in China even in remote counties in Pamir Plateau and it's super easy and cheap with up to date technology, but still much more people choose to take HSR, it's way more conveinent and comfortable than flying.

The high-speed rail is more punctual, and the high-speed rail station is closer to the city center than the airport, and it does not take as long as an airplane boarding time.

 

[nahtanbob]

Did not include 2 hours precheck in and the need to arrive 1.5 hours earlier. If you add that in HSR is really competitive. Don't forget capacity issues.

I go to the airport for domestic flight 90 minutes ahead of time. Maybe in a big city I might have to schedule 2 hours

These are the two issues for HSR network in USA our Chinese friends ignore.

Increased Maintenance Costs
the temperature extremes are higher in USA compared to China.
a lot of HSR rail networks will pass through sparsely populated areas.

Cost of getting to HSR terminals
It takes time to get to the HSR terminals. In USA we are spread out in terms of living

 

[OIO]

I go to the airport for domestic flight 90 minutes ahead of time. Maybe in a big city I might have to schedule 2 hours

These are the two issues for HSR network in USA our Chinese friends ignore.

Increased Maintenance Costs
the temperature extremes are higher in USA compared to China.
a lot of HSR rail networks will pass through sparsely populated areas.

Cost of getting to HSR terminals
It takes time to get to the HSR terminals. In USA we are spread out in terms of living

High-speed rail can be built within the city cluster in America.

 

[GHALIB]

Same in China, but we still have better highways for cars and better subways for city folks, doesn't US need them either?

they created all these infrastructures 100 years ago , you got to see these things in last few decades , any way you have done a wonderful job .

 

[beijingwalker]

I go to the airport for domestic flight 90 minutes ahead of time. Maybe in a big city I might have to schedule 2 hours

These are the two issues for HSR network in USA our Chinese friends ignore.

Increased Maintenance Costs
the temperature extremes are higher in USA compared to China.
a lot of HSR rail networks will pass through sparsely populated areas.

Cost of getting to HSR terminals
It takes time to get to the HSR terminals. In USA we are spread out in terms of living

I don't think anywhere in US having harsher weather and terrain to Chinese Tibet and more sparsely populated than Himalayas and Xinjiang deserts.

 

[nahtanbob]

I don't think anywhere in US having harsher weather and terrain to Chinese Tibet and more sparsely populated than Himalayas and Xinjiang deserts.

What percentage of China's HSR is in harsh climates ? I equate Coastal China with moderate climates. Most of population lives in Coastal China.

Most of USA HSR will be in harsh climates - Mid-West, New England, large parts of Southwest USA

 

[OIO]

they created all these infrastructures 100 years ago , you got to see these things in last few decades , any way you have done a wonderful job .

Yes, it also shows that there is no end of history.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

i’m from Philadelphia. Relatively easy drives to cities to the north of me, such as New York City and Boston.

Baltimore and Washington DC to the south of me.


Absolutely! A genuine invitation to take a trip across some of America should you ever visit here.

I used to fly from Boston to Atlantic City with friends to hit the casino. The flight was ridiculously short. You get on the plane start chatting about something and the next thing you know you are landing. This is the painless 12 items or less line. The 2 second swipe of a credit card at the gas pump. The Stouffers lasagna with 3 step instructions that says take out box, throw in microwave for 5 minutes, done.

 

[nahtanbob]

High-speed rail can be built within the city cluster in America.

HSR within metropolitan Los Angeles is more like mass transit. The price points for HSR will not work

 

[beijingwalker]

What percentage of China's HSR is in harsh climates ?

Way more than that of US.

 

[nahtanbob]

Way more than that of US.

What % of China population lives in those harsh climates ?

 

[Gomig-21]

they created all these infrastructures 100 years ago , you got to see these things in last few decades , any way you have done a wonderful job .

You beat me to it! I was just going to say heck, the "railroad" in America was built in the time of cowboys and Indians, post Civil War IIRC. Now it's probably considered strictly freight and even that I think mostly has been moved to trucks and planes. Freight might be limited to very raw materials that are unpackaged.