US rail boom still lags behind cars and planes
Key takeaways
- As gas prices fluctuate and flights get more expensive, US Americans are rediscovering trains — only to find a system built to move boxes, not people.
- But those unfamiliar with the country's train network may be disappointed.
- And there's a paradox here, because the US has more railroads than anywhere in the world.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
As gas prices fluctuate and flights get more expensive, US Americans are rediscovering trains — only to find a system built to move boxes, not people.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Et Aw Going by train could save US citizens money at the gas pump and on airfare Image: Frances M. Roberts/Levine-Roberts/IMAGOAdvertisement Historically overlooked, train travel in the US is having a moment. Passenger numbers have hit new records for the past two years. With aviation fuel and gas prices still running well above pre-Iran war levels, even more travelers may be looking to passenger rails to avoid costly airfare and trips to the gas pump this summer travel season.
But those unfamiliar with the country's train network may be disappointed. Many cities don't have good rail connections, or the kind of high-speed services common in European and East Asian countries.