Planes, ___, and automobiles – America is trying to fill in the blank
Image: Brightline
After decades of losing market share to cars and planes, the US passenger train industry is attempting a resurgence.
On Friday, Brightline, America’s first private passenger train service in over a century, began carrying travelers on a new $5 billion route connecting Miami and Orlando.
- The route features 32 daily trips between Florida’s two biggest tourist hubs at a top speed of 125 MPH. Each journey takes three and a half hours, roughly 30 minutes faster than the average car ride, with individual round-trip tickets starting at $158.
🚂 Trains, a history: Passenger rail was first introduced in the US in the early 1800s and quickly flourished as a method of transportation. But after WWII, rising competition from the airline industry and newly-constructed US highway system meant fewer and fewer travelers were opting for rail.
By 1970, railroad operators were in such bad shape that the federal government created Amtrak to take over the passenger side of operations, allowing the industry to focus solely on shipping freight.
But passenger rail is starting to make a comeback. In addition to the new Miami-Orlando service, Brightline is currently building a route between Southern California and Las Vegas it hopes to open in 2027, featuring electric trains that can reach a top speed of 190 MPH.
And it’s not the only group with major plans for the future:
- Texas developers are working on a new rail route that would carry passengers from Dallas to Houston in just 90 minutes, compared to 3.5 hours by car. The service was initially slated for completion in 2020, but has been delayed by ongoing litigation.
- US and Canadian local governments are in the early phases of planning a high-speed rail route between Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, which is projected to add $355 billion worth of economic activity to the region over two decades.
📊 Flash poll: If given a choice, which of the following options would be most prudent for you and your current situation when taking a medium- or long-distance trip?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that polling consistently shows that the American public wants the option to travel across the country via high-speed rail, but politicians aren’t properly implementing construction plans that have worked in nearly every other developed country.
- Others contend that many high-speed rail projects in the US have lots of ambitious plans and dreams, but far too often fail to follow through on their goals due to a variety of reasons like ballooning costs or legal battles.
- “Let’s find the courage to complete high-speed rail project” –Rod Diridon, Ray Lahood, and Anthony Foxx, The Mercury News
- “California’s ‘crazy train’ is still going nowhere fast” –Charles Lane, WaPo
- “All aboard? Amtrak could fast track Houston-Dallas bullet train.” –Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that governments and organizations should attempt more realistic rail routes which still provide value to Americans, rather than grand plans and designs which won’t be finished.
- Others contend that high-speed rail projects across the country are little more than plans to waste taxpayers’ or investors’ money on constructing large-scale routes, which always come in significantly over-budget.
- “New life for high-speed rail in Texas?” –Dallas Morning News Editorial Board
- “California’s high-speed boondoggle” –Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial Board
- “California’s Laughing Rail Stock” –WSJ Editorial Board
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