4 ms·

If car use and infrastructure wasn't so heavily subsidized, then trains would likely fare a lot better.

by occz 5y ago

aww_dang 5y ago
Japan's private rail system is sometimes characterized as a real estate development scheme with a railroad attached. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secret-to-tokyo-s-rail-success https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secre... >That's the most of any private railway in Japan, as of 2006, according to Calimente. That year Tokyu generated $2.63 billion in revenue en route to $587 million in profits. Rail fares brought in about a third of that figure, real estate holdings reap another third, and retail about a fifth. Even in a highly managed economy, private or semi-private rail may be able to compete under the right circumstances.
- pm90 5y ago
  I could totally see railway stations becoming “hubs”, with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops for people to just hang out pre/post journey. In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted and have maybe a parking lot; this seemed really unusual to me as someone who grew up in Mumbai where the train stations have all kinds of stores selling food/books etc. It seemed so… dead. Somewhat alarmingly they don’t even have public restrooms! This is predicated on foot traffic though. And American transit systems are, let’s say, not the most appealing. I do hope that it changes.
  - newleaf 5y ago
    This is the model being tried at the Miami Brightline station. The owners were (are?): Florida East Coast Industries, which is owned by Fortress Investment Group, which owned by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
  - drdeadringer 5y ago
    > In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted Whilst some are, there are also a lot that are right next to "downtown areas" with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops. Sunnyvale, Mt View, Palo Alto, Redwood City for examples. Are you thinking just of the San Francisco terminus or the current "pre-Google development" San Jose Diridon terminus?
    - pm90 5y ago
      Yes, I use the Sunnyvale/Santa Clara - SF route.
samstave 5y ago
Im really surprised that there is no "Train Ferry" -- A train that one drives their car onto and takes the train across country/states and then disembarks with their car... I used to take the train very often from sacramento to the bay area... It was clean, has wifi, quiet, power, drinks, food... It was a great commute - but the prices are still too high...
- aww_dang 5y ago
  https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train
  - samstave 5y ago
    Well Hot Damn!... this is definitely on track. The only problem that I have with Amtrak is their disconnect with modern pricing for value of service. Case in point being a train ride from say SF to Seattle is WAY more expensive than a flight, many times longer and other than no plane crash risks... what value is it for that price? I find it akin to the guy on a slow sunday morning drive on an impassable two-lane highway where his old restored 1938 ford only goes 45 mph and the speed limit is 65 and there are mad waitresses trying to make it to clock-in time and the old guy is oblivious to other's need to be to work on time... (this is a true story based on a close friend of mine who works at the French Laundry and is constantly thwarted by oblivious slow drivers)
    - aww_dang 5y ago
      It only makes sense if you value it based on other factors. Some of these items are more valuable to me than the cost. The time factors are difficult depending on your circumstances. 1) No TSA (at least when I last used it) 2) You can show up with a bicycle. They will provide a box and you pack it yourself. Your bicycle will not be molested. 3) You can get a private compartment and drink your own liquor 4) You like trains
      - macintux 5y ago
        About 8 years ago I was caught off guard by TSA running a checkpoint at the Amtrak station in Chicago. I don’t know whether that was a common occurrence at the time, and I haven’t ridden in years, but certainly in the moment I was not enthused by the potential encroachment.

If car use and infrastructure wasn't so heavily subsidized, then trains would likely fare a lot better.

by occz 5y ago

If car use and infrastructure wasn't so heavily subsidized, then trains would likely fare a lot better.

Japan's private rail system is sometimes characterized as a real estate development scheme with a railroad attached. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secret-to-tokyo-s-rail-success https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secre... >That's the most of any private railway in Japan, as of 2006, according to Calimente. That year Tokyu generated $2.63 billion in revenue en route to $587 million in profits. Rail fares brought in about a third of that figure, real estate holdings reap another third, and retail about a fifth. Even in a highly managed economy, private or semi-private rail may be able to compete under the right circumstances.

pm90 5y ago
I could totally see railway stations becoming “hubs”, with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops for people to just hang out pre/post journey. In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted and have maybe a parking lot; this seemed really unusual to me as someone who grew up in Mumbai where the train stations have all kinds of stores selling food/books etc. It seemed so… dead. Somewhat alarmingly they don’t even have public restrooms! This is predicated on foot traffic though. And American transit systems are, let’s say, not the most appealing. I do hope that it changes.
- newleaf 5y ago
  This is the model being tried at the Miami Brightline station. The owners were (are?): Florida East Coast Industries, which is owned by Fortress Investment Group, which owned by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
- drdeadringer 5y ago
  > In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted Whilst some are, there are also a lot that are right next to "downtown areas" with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops. Sunnyvale, Mt View, Palo Alto, Redwood City for examples. Are you thinking just of the San Francisco terminus or the current "pre-Google development" San Jose Diridon terminus?
  - pm90 5y ago
    Yes, I use the Sunnyvale/Santa Clara - SF route.

samstave 5y ago

Im really surprised that there is no "Train Ferry" -- A train that one drives their car onto and takes the train across country/states and then disembarks with their car... I used to take the train very often from sacramento to the bay area... It was clean, has wifi, quiet, power, drinks, food... It was a great commute - but the prices are still too high...

aww_dang 5y ago
https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train
- samstave 5y ago
  Well Hot Damn!... this is definitely on track. The only problem that I have with Amtrak is their disconnect with modern pricing for value of service. Case in point being a train ride from say SF to Seattle is WAY more expensive than a flight, many times longer and other than no plane crash risks... what value is it for that price? I find it akin to the guy on a slow sunday morning drive on an impassable two-lane highway where his old restored 1938 ford only goes 45 mph and the speed limit is 65 and there are mad waitresses trying to make it to clock-in time and the old guy is oblivious to other's need to be to work on time... (this is a true story based on a close friend of mine who works at the French Laundry and is constantly thwarted by oblivious slow drivers)
  - aww_dang 5y ago
    It only makes sense if you value it based on other factors. Some of these items are more valuable to me than the cost. The time factors are difficult depending on your circumstances. 1) No TSA (at least when I last used it) 2) You can show up with a bicycle. They will provide a box and you pack it yourself. Your bicycle will not be molested. 3) You can get a private compartment and drink your own liquor 4) You like trains
    - macintux 5y ago
      About 8 years ago I was caught off guard by TSA running a checkpoint at the Amtrak station in Chicago. I don’t know whether that was a common occurrence at the time, and I haven’t ridden in years, but certainly in the moment I was not enthused by the potential encroachment.