this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2024
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The state of the rail system the most reliable measure of how civilized a country really is (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 months ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[–] Lussy@hexbear.net 18 points 2 months ago

It’s sad the state Amtrak is in. Still love it but it’s literally hanging by a thread.

Took me fucking 10 hours to go from Dallas to San Antonio. It usually takes 3 by car…

Although It might vary by geography. My experience riding Amtrak in the northeast during the winter time was incredible. Texas brainrot probably had that shit stripped bare

[–] supertrucker@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 months ago

Good thing the USA has one of the best rail systems in the world. Instead of passengers, it hauls all the crap you order off of Amazon

[–] Roopappy@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That must be why mobile and discriminating populations choose to move to China.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago

People aren't moving to a country that's difficult to move to. Amazing argument you've mustered there.

[–] VeryVito@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That seems like a rather arbitrary measure. I could just as easily state “The state of the cereal aisle is the most reliable measure…”

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago

The state of the rail system is a good proxy because it's a huge infrastructure project that doesn't generate any immediate profit. These types of projects are done primarily to provide social value, thus it's an indication of a society that is willing to invest into improving the quality of life for the majority.

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago

So, as suspected, the US is one shorted switch away from barbarism

[–] Gnugit@aussie.zone 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Riding a fast train in China was one of my worst Chinese experiences.

I can't claim to have ridden anything in the US though..

[–] Random123@fedia.io 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Care to explain?

[–] Gnugit@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've never been to the US.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 0 points 2 months ago

But have you ever been to China ?

[–] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The state of the rail system is a relatively reliable measure of how densely populated a country is.

[–] atan@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 months ago

This just seems like hand-wringing for the pitiful state of the rail system in the USA. A country can have many dense population centres separated by large distances, making HSR viable and worthwhile, but still have low population density overall - just like the USA. The only real obstacle is political will/public support.

Western China has around half the population density of the USA but is already served by a 1,900km HSR line.

[–] psvrh@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Oh, Canada!

[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago

Best we can do is a broken airline.

[–] InputZero@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Canada already loves Nazis and hates immigrants. Don't give them any ideas about trains.