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Many urbanists seem to have a severe case of "train brain" where they can not see how expensive and impractical trains are for contemporary transportation needs
by xnx 2y ago
Many urbanists seem to have a severe case of "train brain" where they can not see how expensive and impractical trains are for contemporary transportation needs. Trains are a solution to a problem from a century ago, and fair very poorly when evaluated capability and cost per passenger mile basis to alternatives. I'm am extremely optimistic about the future of public transportation, but that future is right-sized autonomous vehicles and not fixed route hundred ton trains that move a lot of empty seats.
- tharmas 2y agoMost of all, train routes are not adaptable, bus routes are. Trains are definitely nicer from a ride experience though. I feel there is room for improvement in the design of buses. Jane Jacobs argued that trains are suitable for well established routes of travel. First the bus, then the train.
- xnx 2y ago> Most of all, train routes are not adaptable, bus routes are. Totally, and this is true on a microscale too. 1,000s of train commuters are regularly delayed by a "sick passenger" on a rail line. With buses, following busses can go around any stopped bus.