Why do people like high speed rail so much?
Because its public transit, not private transit.
Its significantly cheaper to travel long distances compared to other options like flying or driving. In a lot of cases it may even be faster than flying, and even when its slower, its not slower by a large amount.
Its better for the environment, and trains are just cool.I have rode the High Speed Trains in Europe.
Once you’ve experienced them, you will understand the hype. They are also very comfortable and very scenic.
You can go from Amsterdam to Paris in about 3 hours. This would be like going from Mississauga to Ottawa in 3 hours instead of almost 5.
I think “comfortable and scenic” is accurate, but undersells it.
Being in high speed rail is far more comfortable than a plane. The seats are good, the ride is very smooth (no turbulence! no take off and landing! none of anything like that!), and you can get up to find the restroom whenever you want, no seatbelt sign or any of that.
It is so much faster than many other forms of transport not just because of its own speed, but because train stations can be centrally located and easy to get to (unlike most airports), and don’t have the excess security theatre of airports that slows down the process. So the entire experience feels quicker and easier from start to finish.
trains are better for the environment by a huge margin than flight and than driving as well. and the scenic element is indeed much nicer – you get to watch the landscape go by and change, without the stress of driving.
trains are incredibly efficient at moving large volumes of people. there’s a reason that much of europe and asia has invested in them, and a reason that we had railroads across north america until the truck and car lobbies essentially ruined investment in this mode of transport.