What’s the state of train travel?

In the U.S., it’s grim. In the golden age of railways, prior to World War II, passengers traveled in luxury, enjoying fine dining, valet service, and even manicures on what was then the fastest mode of transportation available. But after trains lost favor to air travel and the Interstate Highway System, passenger train travel in the U.S. regressed dramatically. In recent years, schedules have been slashed, and many train cars and tracks have fallen into a state of disrepair. In fact, some train routes today take several hours longer than they did during the Great Depression. As quality has deteriorated, so has quantity. In 1930, the U.S. had 260,000 miles of rail. By 2000, that total had been reduced to 100,000 miles—the same as in 1881. High-speed rail travel in the U.S. will be impossible without expensive new trains, tracks, signals, crossings, and gates. “We wouldn’t have an interstate [highway] system if there weren’t an involvement from the government, and it still took us ...  more