3 ms·

My knowledge of them is from here[0] and I understand their availability to have generally declined over the past several years. [0]: https://www.seat61.com/mo

My knowledge of them is from here[0] and I understand their availability to have generally declined over the past several years. [0]: https://www.seat61.com/motorail-trains.htm https://www.seat61.com/motorail-trains.htm

midasuni 5y ago
Because they don’t justify the massive subsidies. Sleepers have had a little resurgence over the last year or two, but motorail demand is low and costs are high. Demand at market price is even lower. With a good motorway network and reliable cars people just aren’t willing to spend 5 times the price to go on a train. Even they were, it’s not sustainable. Far better to fly or train to a remote city and hire a car on arrival.
- yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
  I guess I'm surprised and dismayed that there isn't more of a market for it. Hire cars are a bland, pedestrian experience, and I'm sure quite many people would rather drive their own interesting car on interesting roads. Not everything needs to be a race to the bottom — there are still people who pay a premium for a better experience. I would think also that government subsidies for this kind of service are justified. Surely it's better for the environment and also safer.
  - kwhitefoot 5y ago
    > Hire cars are a bland, pedestrian experience, They don't have to be, although he alternatives are expensive. I rented a BMW 438i convertible for a couple of weeks about six years ago. Brilliant car and even though it was a lot more expensive than the usual boring vehicles I rent it was worth it.
  - midasuni 5y ago
    My car is bland and functional. If I go to LA then I’ll hire a convertible. If I go to Alberta something big and maybe 4 wheel drive. If I go to Nice I’ll hire a Citroen C1.
- bagacrap 5y ago
  Isn't the existence of a good motorway network also a massive subsidy to motorists?
  - midasuni 5y ago
    Depends on the motorway, some countries have tolls (France for instance) which presumably cover the operational costs, most will have road taxes which cover all the operational costs several times over if you exclude externalities
  - lazerpants 5y ago
    Not in a lot of Europe. Tolls are high and gas taxes are high. Driving from London to Rome can cost several hundred euros in tolls.

midasuni 5y ago

Because they don’t justify the massive subsidies. Sleepers have had a little resurgence over the last year or two, but motorail demand is low and costs are high. Demand at market price is even lower. With a good motorway network and reliable cars people just aren’t willing to spend 5 times the price to go on a train. Even they were, it’s not sustainable. Far better to fly or train to a remote city and hire a car on arrival.

yakshaving_jgt 5y ago
I guess I'm surprised and dismayed that there isn't more of a market for it. Hire cars are a bland, pedestrian experience, and I'm sure quite many people would rather drive their own interesting car on interesting roads. Not everything needs to be a race to the bottom — there are still people who pay a premium for a better experience. I would think also that government subsidies for this kind of service are justified. Surely it's better for the environment and also safer.
- kwhitefoot 5y ago
  > Hire cars are a bland, pedestrian experience, They don't have to be, although he alternatives are expensive. I rented a BMW 438i convertible for a couple of weeks about six years ago. Brilliant car and even though it was a lot more expensive than the usual boring vehicles I rent it was worth it.
- midasuni 5y ago
  My car is bland and functional. If I go to LA then I’ll hire a convertible. If I go to Alberta something big and maybe 4 wheel drive. If I go to Nice I’ll hire a Citroen C1.
bagacrap 5y ago
Isn't the existence of a good motorway network also a massive subsidy to motorists?
- midasuni 5y ago
  Depends on the motorway, some countries have tolls (France for instance) which presumably cover the operational costs, most will have road taxes which cover all the operational costs several times over if you exclude externalities
- lazerpants 5y ago
  Not in a lot of Europe. Tolls are high and gas taxes are high. Driving from London to Rome can cost several hundred euros in tolls.