4 ms·

Could you please list those rational reasons? Surely trains only make sense when they get you from A to B faster than driving to airport A, flying to airport B

by tjmc 17y ago

Could you please list those rational reasons? Surely trains only make sense when they get you from A to B faster than driving to airport A, flying to airport B and then driving to B. You could be delayed at the airports for a full day and still fly from London to Beijing faster than this train. Trains are probably better for moving freight, but they don't have to be high speed. Unless JET-A fuel becomes so scarce that aviation is completely uneconomic (highly unlikely with current progress in biofuels IMHO), trains just don't make sense for distances over about 1000kms. Bring in the security issues, where a large rock is just as dangerous as an IED and it's a non-starter.

Kliment 17y ago
Trains (when they work) are a much more pleasurable experience than flying. I prefer trains whenever reasonable because airports are simply nasty and annoying. I spend much more time at airports than I do flying. The security theatre is frustrating and volume and type of stuff one may transport is very limited. The economical argument is volume. Once you have a train line running, it is extremely cheap to transport large volumes of people and goods. Having a train connection would make a lot of travel possible that currently just does not happen due to prices or volume/weight limits. Also, a two day train trip is much less stressing physically than a one day flight. On a train, you can reasonably walk around, interact with people. On a flight, you are mostly bound to your seat except for bathroom breaks.
- detst 17y ago
  Time is the major factor for me. The issues I have with air travel are nothing more than minor inconveniences. It's really not that bad. Sure, the comfort of a train is nice but in no way comes close to the convenience of an airplane. The exceptions are for short distances and when I actually want to take in the sights that a train affords.

by tjmc 17y ago

Kliment 17y ago

Trains (when they work) are a much more pleasurable experience than flying. I prefer trains whenever reasonable because airports are simply nasty and annoying. I spend much more time at airports than I do flying. The security theatre is frustrating and volume and type of stuff one may transport is very limited. The economical argument is volume. Once you have a train line running, it is extremely cheap to transport large volumes of people and goods. Having a train connection would make a lot of travel possible that currently just does not happen due to prices or volume/weight limits. Also, a two day train trip is much less stressing physically than a one day flight. On a train, you can reasonably walk around, interact with people. On a flight, you are mostly bound to your seat except for bathroom breaks.

detst 17y ago
Time is the major factor for me. The issues I have with air travel are nothing more than minor inconveniences. It's really not that bad. Sure, the comfort of a train is nice but in no way comes close to the convenience of an airplane. The exceptions are for short distances and when I actually want to take in the sights that a train affords.