Infrastructure isn't a one size fits all arrangement. Passenger rail was once common in America. In fact, America has twice as much rail as the next in line. Why don't we use it for transport?
1) Because we all have cars. Aside from a few outliers (NYC, parts of Chicago, DC, Bay Area), US cities are designed with high car ownership in mind. Less than 10% of US households don't have a car.
Short train rides are less convenient than car trips. Especially since you'll most likely need a car at the destination.
Trains also only take you to limited stops. Cars can take you anywhere.
2) Flights are faster for longer range trips and America is a fairly spread out country. Chicago to Denver would still be a long highspeed rail trip.
3)Trains only make sense for intermediate range trips that begin and end in cities that people will stay close to the train station. Washington to New York, train is the best option.
But that sort of utility wouldn't support a robust nationwide network of passenger rail.
> But that sort of utility wouldn't support a robust nationwide network of passenger rail.
You don't need nationwide, you need regional. The East Coast and parts of the Midwest would do well with a decent train network. Sure, Chicago to Denver is never going to be reasonable, but Chicago to Indianapolis or St. Louis? That could be a train trip.
As American re-urbanizes, these sorts of trips become more and more reasonable to make by train as cars become less necessary.
1) Because we all have cars. Aside from a few outliers (NYC, parts of Chicago, DC, Bay Area), US cities are designed with high car ownership in mind. Less than 10% of US households don't have a car.
Short train rides are less convenient than car trips. Especially since you'll most likely need a car at the destination.
Trains also only take you to limited stops. Cars can take you anywhere.
2) Flights are faster for longer range trips and America is a fairly spread out country. Chicago to Denver would still be a long highspeed rail trip.
3)Trains only make sense for intermediate range trips that begin and end in cities that people will stay close to the train station. Washington to New York, train is the best option.
But that sort of utility wouldn't support a robust nationwide network of passenger rail.