this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024
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Planes <<<<<< trains.
For distances >600km, flying is usually 4x-10x faster at a similar price. At least in and around Germany. I assume in the US trains compare way worse, also because the distances are way larger.
Examples: "Normal" example: Stuttgart (Germany) -> Amsterdam (Netherlands) Train: 11h 10min - 241€ Plane: 1h 20min - 225€
Best case scenario for train in Germany at around that distance (because there's a direct connection): München -> Berlin Train: 3h 54min - 167€ Plane: 1h 5min - 226€
You're too smart for this site. I too love taking trains across both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!
I'd actually love to take some sort of sea train, underground tunnel or floating death wave train one day. It wouldn't be relaxing, peaceful, or cheap. But it would be an adventure.
Hour vs. hour it's the best form of transportation
You get more space, there's no TSA, you don't get charged for bringing luggage, you can carry on liquids, you get leg room, the wifi is decent.
But if I'm traveling a really far distance... For example, if I'm going from California to New York I'd rather go by plane. Going by train for that seems to be pretty horrible. America is in desperate need of a ground transportation that can get from California to New York quickly.
If we put in a mag-lev system that averages 250 mph from station to station, an overnight sleeper train across the country becomes extremely attractive.
There is a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna, last 2 / 3 years I checked it was sold out almost everyday. It seems like the perfect mode of transport
Yup, that's like 70-80 hours, depending on where in CA you're leaving from. So you'll be on that train for 3 days, and have to change trains 2-4 times. The plus side is that it's cost-competitive w/ flying ($400-ish, vs $200-ish flying), but that's for coach, so you'd spend those 3 days sleeping in a chair. If you want a sleeper room, that's like $2k.
A direct flight would take 5-ish hours and cost $200-ish.
There's a reason nobody rides trains in the US, and it's because it takes way too long and it's too expensive. It would be a fun experience, but not great if you're using it for transportation.
They are very much incomparable more so than they are comparable. Try taking a train over a sea or across a country like the US.
Exactly. I live near SLC, and to get to SF would take:
And that's a route with a direct train connection, so literally no transfers. So, a train takes way longer, is probably more expensive (esp. if I take family), and I'd probably need a rental car on the other end. And that's for a "best case" scenario with direct train service.
Screw that, trains anywhere other than the east coast of the US makes pretty much no sense for transportation. As an experience, sure, but not to get from A to B.
Agreed, but they'll inevitably fuck those up too.