Not so friendly reminder that musk specifically came up with, and pushed, for hyperloop knowing that it would never be made, as an effort to stop the development of highspeed rail in America and shift all political discussions of it because “something better is around the corner”:
As I’ve written in my book, Musk admitted to his biographer Ashlee Vance that Hyperloop was all about trying to get legislators to cancel plans for high-speed rail in California—even though he had no plans to build it. Several years ago, Musk said that public transit was “a pain in the ass” where you were surrounded by strangers, including possible serial killers, to justify his opposition.
Also: 2024 update, the total length of China’s high-speed rail tracks has now reached well over 45,000 km, or 28,000 miles, by the end of 2023.
They are additionally five years ahead of schedule and expect to double the total number within ten years. And, before someone inevitably complains about “how expensive it is”, they are turning over a net-profit of over $600M USD a year.
I’ve been on a few. They’re quite… nice? At least the high speed rail ones between cities. Better than anything I’ve seen in europe or UK.
In terms of train derailments, you have to consider the size of the country
I will unironically take you out for a Beer here in Switzerland. You can choose: Geneva, Bern, Lucern or Zürich. Because no, the trains in China are definitely worse than those here in Switzerland. Trust me.
They’re really really fast, I’ll give them that (If you’re on one of the ones that the CCP prioritized as a prestige-project), but other than that: No, Swiss trains are just better.
Also:
I am going to have to strongly disagree.
The Video I saw was a earthslide that destroyed the rails and no early warning system picked it up causing the Train to run into it full speed and derailing
If your railways don’t have early warning systems, that’s just completely unacceptable. Train safety has absolutely nothing to do with the size of a country.
Which I was especially disappointed in since I once saw a documentary about how the chinese had apparently implemented the swiss train-security system into their railway system. But I guess only the “important” routes get the upgrade. Everywhere else either doesn’t get it or the money goes into the carpark of the local Officials.
Swiss trains are so good that they cross the border to break the strikes of other countries. I will say the exception is Switzerland.
But compare it to the DB ICE, or to National Rail / Southern / Great Western, or TGV going cross country. China trains win, imo.
In terms of early warning systems I can’t comment
woah, woah, context, context!
We only drove international routes that would have impacted Swiss people if they just suddenly stopped at the Swiss border. We didn’t “break” a Strike, we just “contained” it to the country it actually belongs to.
other than that we wish the best to the protesting workers :P
But yeah, I am absolutely spoiled living here in Switzerland.
The most powerful thing about our public transport isn’t even what most people tend to think about. It’s how regional and local public transport are integrated. A Bus will be at the train station exactly at the same time as a train, so you can effortlessly change between the two. While in other countries the transport is separated so you routinely wait 20+ minutes for your next transport, in Switzerland, it is seldom more than 5-10 minutes.
Yeah, I am absolutely spoiled. But at least I know it and don’t take it for granted but instead enjoy it :)
That sounds a bit like undermining the strike, but tbh, I’ve no idea of what you guys are talking about.
It totally is.
A lot of French/German people go work in Switzerland, a noticeable amount such that when the DB (german trains) is broken down / delayed / on strike (as it often is), Swiss companies suffer.
It has become such a problem that in order to get these workers to work, Swiss trains will cross the border to collect these commuters as a replacement service.
Since these Swiss trains are following the same tracks as the DB would take, French/German people who just want to get to work in France/Germany also take these Swiss trains to work.
The end result is a DB strike that failed, pissed off commuters realising just howsmooth, quiet, and fancy Swiss trains are in comparison, and a general populace who are irritated at the state of german trains and train scheduling.
That’s interesting
Thanks for the context.
You’re probably right. It’s not that US railways suck because of the size of the country, that’s probably true, yeah. They suck for totally unrelated reasons.
https://youtu.be/AJ2keSJzYyY?si=7uRq8YJO97bxVcui