I could literally bike across the Great Plains faster than a train and save enough money to buy a new bike. You first have to take the train to California, then to Oregon, and back halfway across the country.

  • BironyPoisoned [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    5·
    7 days ago

    It sucks but American trains are just worse as a form of travel than almost every other alternative. On average, takes longer, costs more, and more inconvenient than taking a car or bus. The only place it kinda works is the subway but that’s only because above ground is a hellscape for cars.

    • happybadger [he/him]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      5·
      7 days ago

      kitty-birthday-sad The worst part is that the California Zephyr train it wants to route me on seems like it’d be one of the most beautiful train rides I’ve had. It winds through the Rockies, Utah canyonland and Nevada desert, and ends in one of California’s most fertile agricultural regions. I would take a trip like that every weekend if the rail infrastructure was on par with mediocre European systems, let alone Chinese or Japanese ones. Geographically it’s a dream country for trains in the ways that make driving and flying suck.