4 ms·
The fundamental problem is that the ground experience is managed by the airports, which are usually unionized governmental entities with little concern for the
by newbie12 13y ago
The fundamental problem is that the ground experience is managed by the airports, which are usually unionized governmental entities with little concern for the customer's time, and by the TSA. Similarly, despite very compelling economics, interstate passenger rail is a failure in the US because the government corporation Amtrak has a monopoly, deals with some of the most absurd unions in America, and doesn't seriously innovate.
- seanmcdirmid 13y agoThis post is drool. "Blame the unions" is the new right wing "blame Jews" I guess. Most airports in the states are reasonably run and don't waste our time, compared to many other European and Asian countries. Passenger rail doesn't work well in the states given the distances involved, we just aren't that dense. Where it does make sense in the eastern corridor, Amtrak is able to make a profit. Amtrak long haul routes however exist only for those afraid to fly. Long haul routes in china only make money because they have much more volume than us, and people who don't mind traveling 2 days from shanghai to urumuqi to save on a 6 hour flight.
- cafard 13y agoYou don't suppose US population density has something to do with this, do you? Rail does well enough in the Mid-Atlantic and NE states, between Boston and Washington.