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Straight-faced_solo t1_irbw44n wrote

Reply to comment by ThenaJuno in TIL the length of the US rail network is twice that of Europe by Pardon_my_baconess

The big problem is that it's all freight. Our freight lines work well and are actually pretty nice. A little old, but it's still a fully functioning rail system. When it comes to moving people though, we just pretend the U,S can't build rail.

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skywrites8 t1_ircgp87 wrote

CSX basically has a monopoly on U.S. rail. They've had a longstanding battle with Amtrack over passenger rail. The rail system in the U.S. has almost always been a monopoly system, owned by $$$$$ freight companies. You can't just decide you want to lay down passenger tracks too, the system is set up to not allow it and the theoretical cost of adding to the rail system is astronomical, far more than many American towns and cities could afford. Very purposefully set so.

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emaw63 t1_ircpy8j wrote

Fucking infuriating too given how easy it is for cities to throw down a new highway through a neighborhood or to widen an existing one to 20 lanes. Can’t ever seem to make it work for rail though 🙃

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skywrites8 t1_ircri0v wrote

It's all about where the funding comes from- lots of funding for local highways. Not many want to go to bat with freight companies who rule the rail. Infuriating indeed :/

Also, highways were a very convenient way to keep black people out of white communities. Very important note in why the interstate system got so much support.

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dprophet32 t1_ire4vo8 wrote

Is there nothing in America that is above naked profiteering?

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