Comment on Is America's quest for high-speed trains finally picking up steam?

• BombOmOm@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The majority of Europe can fit into just the central area of the US. It’s the core reason aircraft have succeeded so well in the US despite the push for more trains for decades.

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  • GiddyGap@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    You do know that the Nordic countries are part of Europe, right? They stretch way up north past the edge of the image. They also happen to have some of the most advanced rail systems in the world.

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    • BombOmOm@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Sure, and they are about the same size as just CA, a place I specifically mentioned is viable for rail in the US.

      Sweden:

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  • n2burns@lemmy.ca ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Area of USA: 9,833,520 km^2

    Area of Europe: 10,180,000 km^2

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  • Blamemeta@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I don’t think Europeans understand what space is. They are all crammed in together like tuna.

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    • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Most of Europe is comparable to California in terms of density and terrain. A few sprawling megacities, a lot of smaller towns on the way to and from them, and a couple of mountain towns that are a bitch and a half to get to.

      And California and The East Coast actually have solid public transportation. More buses than trains but… yeah.

      But what Europe largely lacks are “the flyover states”. Like, I love to reference www.amtrak.com/plan-your-trip.html because it really highlights this. The East coast is pretty dense and you can more or less get anywhere within a day or two of train+buses. Which is very reminiscent of (the) Europe(an Union). That is true to a lesser degree in California.

      But… fuck Wyoming. Also, there are almost no major routes going in because the vast majority of that state is nothingness and empty land. Which is when you use an airplane and then a rental car. Same as if you are going to a remote part of Norway or Sweden.

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    • BombOmOm@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I have, on numerous occasions, had to throw water on European’s plans to visit all of the big sites in the US in one visit. Wanting to see the Grand Canyon, the Everglades and DC in the same visit is not terribly practical.

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      • GiddyGap@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        On the other hand, I have, on numerous occasions, had to throw water on American’s plans to visit big sites in Europe in one visit. “Let’s do Amsterdam and Copenhagen and then Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.” In one week. Yeah, not gonna happen.

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