Comments by "VisibilityFoggy" (@VisibilityFoggy) on "The One Tiny Law That Keeps Amtrak Terrible" video.

Better? Why would I want to spend hours in a tin can with strangers when I can ride in my comfortable car, listen to my music as loud as I want, stop at whatever restaurant I please along the way, and have transportation once I actually get where I'm going? If it's too far to drive, planes take care of 99% of my needs. Taking a train is a hassle. It works in Europe because the population is more centralized and the distances between popular destinations is physically shorter. In the United States, our urban centers are usually crime-filled disaster areas where nobody wants to live. People try to avoid major cities if they can when traveling, which has led to the rise of regional airports becoming extremely popular with leisure travelers and continuing to grow.
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It's amazing to pay double the cost of a plane ticket to take a train from NYC to DC? Even from New Jersey, it's hundreds of dollars. I traveled between NJ and DC for years and never took the train. You're the one dreaming, fella.
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You can only do that if you want to nationalize freight lines as well. Which would raise the cost of transporting freight, which would lead more customers to switch to diesel trucks, which travel on the........ road.
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@kaitlyn__L I didn't say they live in rural areas. I said they do not live in major cities. For statistical purposes, most suburban municipalities are considered "cities" or "urban" due to their population density. I was referring to the city proper areas of the United States, which are, generally speaking, complete disaster areas that are unlivable
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@DavidThomas-xe2mb "Back?" Name a major American city that isn't overrun with crime, disorder, homelessness and corruption? People live in American cities for a few years after college, then leave.
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If Americans actually demanded these passenger lines, they would have the support to be built. The truth is that Americans don't genuinely see a need for them. Sure, it would "be nice" to have high-speed rail lines like Europe – but would YOU use them? Honestly, I would not. If a destination is far away, a plane is faster, and frankly you have to spend less time in close quarters with other members of the public and all of the petty annoyances that come with that. If a destination is close enough, I'd rather drive in my comfortable car, playing the music I like, and be able to continue to drive and explore once I actually reach my destination. Another issue in the United States is that our major urban areas are generally very crime-filled and not places where most people want to travel outside of business hours. Why do we think "work from home" got so popular? If things change and the demand is there, this stuff will get built. But right now, it just isn't.
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@seantroy3172 Sure, during off-hours and lower speed trains. An Acela from Trenton (near where I used to live) to DC to go to a meeting and return that night would rarely be under $150 round-trip.
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@seantroy3172 Plus outrageous parking fees at train stations, plus the time it takes to get to the station, waiting around for the train to arrive, dealing with the public, etc. I don't see an advantage over my car.
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@2Schway4u Quiet down, dirty leftist. Adults are talking.
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@vinylcabasse Except choose my exact destination (no cabs or Ubers from a train station to my final location), not have to worry about rude fellow passengers, stop whenever and wherever I like, check out a scenic location along the way, or worry about delays, etc. I like the comfort of my own car. You like trains. Why do "train people" obsess over this so much? Do whatever you'd like, but don't try to force me to live and travel the way you prefer. Who is ANYONE to tell me how to arrive at my destination?
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@vinylcabasse Yeah, I'd actually like the option too. I enjoy taking high speed rail in Europe. It works very well. The problem is that in other countries, it's consider utilitarian transport. Here, it's like a religion, usually promoted by one side of the political aisle, to intentionally try to change people's behavior. That's why you have so many people against it. Elsewhere, it's another option. Here, it's a step aimed at achieving one of many social/political goals. That said, the privately-funded Brightline shows great promise.
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@ShroudedWolf51 Labor and maintenance are not my problem. We pay professionals, usually under union contracts, to take care of that stuff. I'm fine with paying the bill. Flying is (with the exception of the Biden era) affordable and fast.
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