re: Can high speed rail work in the United States?

quote:

---

Here’s an example. I’ve traveled from Houma to Hammond a bunch recently. That about 1.5-2 hours. A little shorter than Paris to London by train. But I’d much rather get in my vehicle and drive there when I’m ready, arrive when I want, stop where I want, etc.

---

90 minutes from Hammond to Houma and 6 1/2 hours London to Paris. There is a sizeable body of water between London and Paris to contend with also and the only way across it, in a car, is either on a train or a boat.

quote:

---

Americans are inherently independent and want to drive themselves. We don’t want to be packed into a train and go where everyone else is going.

---

Independent Americans spend an awful lot of time in traffic going, if not the exact same place as everyone else, at least the exact same direction. That said Europeans prefer driving also...theirs is as much a car culture as the US's is. Most of the trains are EMPTY other than morning and afternoon commuters. It is far cheaper to drive in Europe also unless you are alone...trains are damned expensive. FInally you gotta be willing to continue on from the train station to your destination either on foot or a combo of other forms of public transport and walking...Americans can't walk further than the handicapped parking spot to the walmart...they sure as hell ain't walking 10 blocks and toting groceries....