Amtrak's New Acela Trains Are Here. They're Moving Slower Than the Old Ones

Re:Amtrak's New Acela Trains Are Here. They're Moving Slower... by bombcar on Friday August 29, 2025 @01:06PM (#45066674)

This is exactly it.

The USA has solved two problems: cheap and easy travel across town (in your car) and cheap and easy travel across the country (in a plane).

Both COULD be done by rail, and some places do - sometimes on the same rail network.

And when the ONLY option for transcontinental travel was rail - the USA has some impressive shit.

Given the limitations and money available it’s surprising it’s as good as it is.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Amtrak's New Acela Trains Are Here. They're Moving Slower... by mperham on Friday August 29, 2025 @01:10PM (#45066736)

> cheap and easy travel across town (in your car)

It's only cheap and easy if you discount omnipresent traffic jams, 50,000 deaths per year, ever-worsening climate change and the inability to walk/bike anywhere anymore.

Aside from that, it only costs the average American $1,000/mo to keep that cheap and easy transportation!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Amtrak's New Acela Trains Are Here. They're Moving Slower... by robocat on Friday August 29, 2025 @09:54PM (#45071265)

It's a strawman to only mention downsides.

People buy and use cars because the benefits exceed their costs.

It isn't easy to value the benefits nor the externalities.

[ Parent | on HN ]