@1:10 Trains in Japan were initially only running at speeds up to 130 mph in 1964.
Over half a century ago the world had bullet trains. I guess when we had 200 million Americans we didn’t think it was worth the effort. Now with an extra 130 million people, it’s too difficult and expensive.
In 1947 the US introduced a speed limit of 79mph for trains without automated train control (ATC) systems after a Chicago commuter train crash killed 45 people. [1]
Over 30,000 people were killed in car accidents that same year [2]
The reason ATC is not installed more widely is a matter of debate (besides, of course, the expense). There's a general sense that freight companies just like having the right of way to themselves, and making passenger trains slow and expensive is a good way to achieve this. There's even a conspiracy theory that Amtrak was instituted for this very purpose -- to have a government subsidized company no one could compete with, but that no one would want to ride either... (I could go digging for the newspaper clip, I just saw this on an Amtrak forum once...)
it will be more interesting if we ever get down the costs of energy, then we can focus on really fast tech. its also worth noting that trains between philadelphia and nyc (Acela Express) go ~135-165 mph.
if it takes 6 hours and ~ 450$ to get from nyc to sf, it would be more revolutionary to reduce the cost by 50% than than cut the time in half I think.
It's a good question, but having seen bus upkeep compared to train upkeep, it seems like it takes a lot more labor to keep a train moving.
Might have something to do with how expensive replacement parts are. Bus engines are of course highly commoditized, where as a lot of trainsets are one-off manufactures, maybe replacement parts have to be special ordered? Just speculating.
That and just the condition of the tracks. Same problem as the NYC subway -- everything is 100 years old, but when can you stop train service to replace it?
Over half a century ago the world had bullet trains. I guess when we had 200 million Americans we didn’t think it was worth the effort. Now with an extra 130 million people, it’s too difficult and expensive.