re: #249 wheat-dogghazi

America’s trackage sucks and passenger rail service is pitiful. China’s high speed rail system is efficient and comfortable, and usualy cheaper than flying.

Passenger rail service beyond the obvious service corridors is expensive to maintain; cleaning cars, staffing them, amenities, etc. And, at this point, freight trains get priority over passenger on a lot of the routes.*

* - This related to me by co-workers who have opted to take the train between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia rather than flying or driving the 300 miles.