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It's silly to draw overarching conclusions of a country based on their choice of transportation. The US flew 846 billion passenger miles last year. Does that

It's silly to draw overarching conclusions of a country based on their choice of transportation. The US flew 846 billion passenger miles last year. Does that make us better or worse? (Answer: neither.) http://apps.bts.gov/xml/air_traffic/src/index.xml http://apps.bts.gov/xml/air_traffic/src/index.xml Trains aren't an end, they're a means to an end. In the US we use jets and cars instead of trains. And before you object based on efficiency -- trains aren't that much more efficient than flying. Only 20% by Amtrak's measure. http://www.amtrak.com/whistle-stop/energy-efficiency-rail-travel-uses-less-fuel-than-cars-planes http://www.amtrak.com/whistle-stop/energy-efficiency-rail-tr... With the increased speed of flying, trains don't seem like such a natural fit for a spread out country like the US.

melling 12y ago
No one said that we should build HSR across the US. Does it really make sense to get fly from NYC to Boston or D.C? From LA to SF? Btw, China is almost as big as the US.
skybrian 12y ago
But where does the energy come from? Trains are much easier to electrify than planes so they can use a variety of energy sources.
thrownaway2424 12y ago
Airplanes won't be flying anywhere once the price of liquid fossil fuel goes nonlinear, so the efficiency objection is moot.
papaf 12y ago
And before you object based on efficiency -- trains aren't that much more efficient than flying. Below is a link to a PDF with more information about energy efficiency: http://adl.stanford.edu/aa260/Lecture_Notes_files/transport_fuel_consumption.pdf http://adl.stanford.edu/aa260/Lecture_Notes_files/transport_... These figures suggest that the train is the most efficient form of travel and that plane is one of the least efficient forms of travel (although it is better than hovercraft for long distance travel).
- kosei 12y ago
  And we talk about what a technological advance it is that the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel efficient. Which would still put it trailing behind the Prius in fuel efficiency.

melling 12y ago

No one said that we should build HSR across the US. Does it really make sense to get fly from NYC to Boston or D.C? From LA to SF? Btw, China is almost as big as the US.

skybrian 12y ago

But where does the energy come from? Trains are much easier to electrify than planes so they can use a variety of energy sources.

thrownaway2424 12y ago

Airplanes won't be flying anywhere once the price of liquid fossil fuel goes nonlinear, so the efficiency objection is moot.

papaf 12y ago

And before you object based on efficiency -- trains aren't that much more efficient than flying. Below is a link to a PDF with more information about energy efficiency: http://adl.stanford.edu/aa260/Lecture_Notes_files/transport_fuel_consumption.pdf http://adl.stanford.edu/aa260/Lecture_Notes_files/transport_... These figures suggest that the train is the most efficient form of travel and that plane is one of the least efficient forms of travel (although it is better than hovercraft for long distance travel).

kosei 12y ago
And we talk about what a technological advance it is that the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel efficient. Which would still put it trailing behind the Prius in fuel efficiency.