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This is spot on and the same observation I had, yet I'm puzzled as to why it was downvoted. A system that profits simply runs better. The best rail systems in t
by malandrew 9y ago
This is spot on and the same observation I had, yet I'm puzzled as to why it was downvoted. A system that profits simply runs better. The best rail systems in the world in Japan are for-profit.
https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2012/05/secret-tokyos-rail-success/2044/ https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2012/05/secret-tokyos... (<-- also from citylab.com)
https://www.quora.com/Is-Japan-rail-profitable https://www.quora.com/Is-Japan-rail-profitable
- rayiner 9y agoThe big difference is not for-profit status, but the fact that Tokyo's and Hong Kong's subway operators own much of the property around the stations, and make a ton of money leasing it: http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/30/news/hong-kong-mtr-subway-property/index.html http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/30/news/hong-kong-mtr-subway-pr.... Economically that makes a lot of sense. Transit infrastructure creates a positive externality: it benefits not only the rider, but the shop or office that the rider goes to. NYC's MTA can only recover from one side of the transaction: the rider. JR and MTR, as major landlords around the stations, can recover from both sides, capturing some of the positive externality.
- ccccccccccccc 9y agoI think that is a stretch of a statement. There are plenty of public services that work great as well as many private services that absolutely suck.