Countries that have true high speed rail without rampant delays and nicer cars have far higher usage rates. They are better for the environment. Transit will need to be FAST, affordable and comfortable for people to give up air travel. Also as a side note, I must be very introverted because the absolute last thing I want to do when I get on a train or plane in the morning is interact with the other passengers. They are already basically sitting in your lap as it is lol.

"Transit will need to be FAST..."

Why?

For a vacation. They aren’t going to want to spend 2 of their 4 days on a train. Also, a lot of air travel is for quick business trips.

That is the thinking. But still, why? It is all so insane.

If a train trip from Chicago to LA took one day instead of two, would people choose that over flying?

I personally think everything has gotten so warped by people wanting everything “now”. Perhaps if employers granted a bit more time off to American workers, they wouldn’t mind a longer more comfortable trip.

Whether it's statistical noise or not remains to be seen.

The problem is that the burden for a lack of energy will fall on those who can least afford it.

“ The problem is that the burden for a lack of energy will fall on those who can least afford it.”

This is exactly why I am a huge proponent of affordable mass transit. My spouse and I live in Philly and make 50-70k each. With the price of vehicles now, we don’t even bother. We have a good system that gets us anywhere in the region.

I wish the American public would get more on board with funding these types of systems throughout the whole country. Not only a is transit astronomical to fund in this country, but, the regulatory and property laws work against it. Something that takes a couple of years to build in Europe takes decades here and ends up ineffective. The working class in this country would benefit a great deal by emulating other countries mass transit systems.

My wife takes the West Trenton line in her commute.

I've had to rescue her by car when she's been stranded.

It would be wise to spend the money spent on blowing stuff and people on trains, but the problem is deeper.

The car CULTure is not sustainable in any form, but you would be amazed to see - I'm both amazed and depressed - how many times I've discussed clean and reliable primary energy on this site only to get a "what about cars" responses.

My head wants to explode.

The bourgeoisie cannot see beyond their provincialism, that is true across the political spectrum, regrettably on our side, on the left, as well as on the corrupt right.

Our popular energy ideas are appalling. We don't care what we destroy, and how little we leave for the future if it impacts our energy convenience.

At ten dollars per gallon, at twenty, gasoline is actually too cheap.

Speaking for myself, I can talk a good game, but if I seriously look in a mirror, I am not innocent by any stretch.