3 ms·

This seems like an impossible claim to me. Surely it depends on many factors, off the top of my head: - the occupancy of the trip - the distance - the number

This seems like an impossible claim to me. Surely it depends on many factors, off the top of my head: - the occupancy of the trip - the distance - the number of stops - the form of “last mile” transportation required - the age and model of the vehicle - the specific fuel source I mean, I believe the statistic is true in aggregate. It’s like saying “vegan food has lower carbon emissions” which is true in aggregate. But wild game is often astronomically lower emissions (not to mention lower cruelty) than typical vegan food. So these aggregate statistics are interesting points to ponder, but we don’t live in aggregate. We eat specific foods and we travel specific routes. And at the individual level these statistics become... well not “mostly false” but certainly “frequently false”. To me, the base statistic is a great starting point but the next questions we need to ask is: when are flights lower emission? When is hunting more humane? Etc. That’s how we can really drive better individual decisions. “Just ride the train and eat vegan” won’t get us to a globally sufficient decision framework.

Shawnj2 3y ago
High speed Trains in Europe generally win on most of these since they’re usually electric trains with minimal stops between city centers.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Except the tiny detail they don't travel everywhere, mostly connections are needed, some countries don't impose reservations so travelling standing up is to be expected, and they don't always hit connection time slots.
  - Shawnj2 3y ago
    When there are lines between places they generally work very well. The last time I used HSR in Europe it was within Italy and they let you pick seats and the trains were very direct, I had 1 connection but that was because I started at a small town that only had a local train line and not a major hub and the connection was quick.
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      My last train travel in Italy, a month ago, I had the pleasure of a 30m delay on local train, and then running like a fool across Milan main station, alongside 15 train platforms, to still catch my connection. Contrary to airport connections, if one looses it, it is lost. There aren't last calls, or help to get another one. Unless one has bought the more expensive ticket with flexible trains.
stuaxo 3y ago
I mean, an electric train that goes to the middle of the city or town you are going to and then a walk or a bus or taxi at the other end, it's no comparison really. If you don't have a car you choose where to live based on this, when I used to commute I always lived never more than 7 minutes walk from a station.
- nixass 3y ago
  > and then a walk What are you, European? /s
miika 3y ago
Look at bullet train network in China, which is probably inspiring EU now. Today it’s about 40,000 km. Total amount of time spent traveling is about same as with airplanes (less time waiting on airport but more time on vehicle) but price is cheaper, ride much more comfortable. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-high-speed-rail-cmd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-high-speed-rail-cmd...

Shawnj2 3y ago

High speed Trains in Europe generally win on most of these since they’re usually electric trains with minimal stops between city centers.

pjmlp 3y ago
Except the tiny detail they don't travel everywhere, mostly connections are needed, some countries don't impose reservations so travelling standing up is to be expected, and they don't always hit connection time slots.
- Shawnj2 3y ago
  When there are lines between places they generally work very well. The last time I used HSR in Europe it was within Italy and they let you pick seats and the trains were very direct, I had 1 connection but that was because I started at a small town that only had a local train line and not a major hub and the connection was quick.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    My last train travel in Italy, a month ago, I had the pleasure of a 30m delay on local train, and then running like a fool across Milan main station, alongside 15 train platforms, to still catch my connection. Contrary to airport connections, if one looses it, it is lost. There aren't last calls, or help to get another one. Unless one has bought the more expensive ticket with flexible trains.

stuaxo 3y ago

I mean, an electric train that goes to the middle of the city or town you are going to and then a walk or a bus or taxi at the other end, it's no comparison really. If you don't have a car you choose where to live based on this, when I used to commute I always lived never more than 7 minutes walk from a station.

nixass 3y ago
> and then a walk What are you, European? /s

miika 3y ago

Look at bullet train network in China, which is probably inspiring EU now. Today it’s about 40,000 km. Total amount of time spent traveling is about same as with airplanes (less time waiting on airport but more time on vehicle) but price is cheaper, ride much more comfortable. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-high-speed-rail-cmd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-high-speed-rail-cmd...