So what I'm hearing is we need to just invest in more trains.

Investment in trains can go hand in hand with this.

Both have their own pros and cons.

But, when evaluating the setup of a public transport system, this could be one more option.

Screw trains. Lets rip them out and build man-made rivers so we can use our water planes!

It's just an ekranoplan with a lower range, lower speed and less capacity than a traditional jet powered one. And even those didn't catch on because of the calm seas requirement and because it's easier and more practical to just fly.

It's also easier and more practical to just float. With hydrofoils. But someone already doing that commercially, bummer.

That's why the Soviet Union is the country that consistently invested in ground effect vehicles... because they have the Caspian Sea and Black Sea (which does have waves but usually <3 ft)

Single missed rogue wave and everyone is dead… Trialing with cargo might work tho.

You wouldn't be flying this over bodies of water which could have rogue waves. Those are generally open sea scenarios, and this is really only practical for hops between relatively close bodies of land, over water. There are a lot of such places around the world, even some where the water is technically connected to an ocean.

In terms of risk of life, it's probably less risk than taking a 180 mile bus ride... even if it were crossing water which could conceivably have a rogue wave appear.

Yeah Miami to Nassau seems like a decent candidate.

Might be nice in Sweden?

Potentially between Great Lakes cities (Milwaukee-Chicago-Detroit, though probably not Detroit as its a long detour through the Straight of Mackinac) or as fast riverboats.

Yeah, that dumb Milwaukee to Chicago flight. The Hiawatha doesn’t go to Ohare (an existing right of way, would add time a little bit of time to the main downtown to downtown trip, but it’s so dumb it doesn’t have at least a glenview to ohare connection), just the Milwaukee airport, and anyway I suppose airlines would rather you be in their system as soon as possible. But such a dumb flight. Take off, then land, hope you don’t spend more time taxiing than in the air.

I've needed to go to Kalamazoo several times, connecting through O'hare. On the return trip, because of the timezone change and the extremely short flight (~15m IIRC), the arrival time printed on your ticket is earlier than your departure time.

Buffalo NY (via Lewiston NY) <=> Toronto had a fast hovercraft service for some years. This might work there with a speedy transfer between Lewiston and Buffalo. Toronto to Rochester NY too. Erie PA.