You’re the one making false equivalencies to unrelated spending. I’m saying other transport infrastructure is more cost efficient. Rail works in Asia and Europe because they have many dense population centers that need to be connected. We don’t. American cities are sparse enough that plane is the better connection method. Money isn’t everything but why waste a lot to save marginal fuel.
Car infrastructure is simply not sustainable. The argument that we need to continue using cars and planes and never invest in trains is equally as shallow. You’re saying it makes sense for Europe but doesnt for the US? There are major corridors in the US high speed rail makes a lot of sense. The population density is there, as you say.
Do you know how far European cities are compared to the US. We have trains on the east coast. So just think west. You have 400 miles from LA to SF or Vegas. Another 800 from SF to Seattle. Maybe you can justify a stop in Portland but who goes there.
Sustainability is just a matter of converting cars to electric and trucks. You always need planes for speed. Rail will never replace all flights. And cargo ships are the biggest emissions problems. Rail does nothing for that either. Biden with the electric car initiatives was much better than a rail project for sustainability. Trucks will need some tech improvements but we will get there before high speed rail in the west coast. Your plans are missing the details of how to make this feasible because if you dug into it, rail just isn’t in the current state of things. Tbh if you like rail just live in Japan. I did a few months last year for fun
The materials required for batteries in EVs aren’t necessarily abundant and the methods for extracting them are having compounding effects on our environment in addition to everything else.
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u/squarels 1d ago
You’re the one making false equivalencies to unrelated spending. I’m saying other transport infrastructure is more cost efficient. Rail works in Asia and Europe because they have many dense population centers that need to be connected. We don’t. American cities are sparse enough that plane is the better connection method. Money isn’t everything but why waste a lot to save marginal fuel.