Comments on: High Speed Trains In The U.S.: A Matter Of Efficiency

By: Mickey Souza

Mickey Souza — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:42:57 +0000

I am a fan as well and can’t wait to use the rail for travel. One thing about trains however as can be seen by the poor planning of BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is that the train is usable to folks close to the rail. Building a separate infrastructure for bicycles that allows for safe bike lanes and storage will enhance these endeavors significantly. Securing bikes both on and off of the trains will expand the rails usable width by 5 miles around each station for a majority of riders.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:22:16 +0000

I am definitely a fan of rail travel. However, I think there is one important difference between the states and Europe which must be considered when looking at the convenience of rail travel. The US simply does not have the public transportation options that are available in Europe. Taking a train in the northeast is definitely an option as the bus and metro systems are very convenient in many of those cities. With a driving time of 3.5 hours, taking a train from Austin to Dallas, on the other hand, is less appealing. Upon arriving, most travelers would be required to rent a car to get around. Many travelers will simply choose to drive in order to have the convience of their own car when they arrive. Unfortately, many US cities are simply too spread out for a metro and bus system to function efficiently. As I mentioned, I love the idea of a rail system and I think it has it’s applications, but I don’t know that it is the solution for the entire country.

By: Tracy McGill

Tracy McGill — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:21:10 +0000

Thank you for your comment. It’s always nice to hear positive feedback, especially on a topic that seems to be surrounded by a lot of negativity.

By: Barbara Quigley

Barbara Quigley — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:18:46 +0000

In reply to Barbara Quigley.

Please respond to my comment at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
Barbara

By: Barbara Quigley

Barbara Quigley — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:13:11 +0000

This is the best article I have read about train travel being in our future here in the USA. We have a need to get caught up and at least equal Europe and some of the rest of the world!
Everyone talks about saving energy and more efficient travel means, rail travel would greatly assist in reducing our carbon footprint.
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, rail travel should be the focus of our future.
Thanks for this great article and raising awareness of the great need of rail travel….. the spotlight of our future for travel
Barbara