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Is the US finally getting ‘all aboard’ with electric trains? (www.theverge.com)

submitted 3 months ago by Beaver@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[-] TheBest@midwest.social 104 points 3 months ago

"India is on the cusp of electrifying 100 percent of its rail lines, while China is nearing three-quarters of its network. Over 57 percent of the rail system in the European Union is electric. The US, which has historically prioritized personal cars over high-volume passenger trains, now can boast that it has two electric trains — and more on the way. "

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 35 points 3 months ago

They must not be counting light rail which is electric.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail_in_the_United_States

"The United States, with its 27 systems (as counted by the Light Rail Transit Association), has a much larger number of "true" light rail systems (not including streetcar systems), by far, compared to any other country in the world (the next largest are Germany with 10 and Japan with 9).[1]

According to the American Public Transportation Association, of the roughly 30 cities with light rail systems in the United States, the light rail systems in six of them (Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), San Diego, and San Francisco) achieve more than 30 million unlinked passenger transits per year.[2]"

The problem with light rail here is excessive heat makes the overhead wire expand and when that happens, it sags causing the trains to have to slow down. :(

In the winter, the problem is snow and ice blocking the lines and the switches.

[-] altima_neo@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

In Portland, the biggest problem light rail has are assholes parking on the tracks.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Sounds like the trains need a cow catcher to help clear the tracks.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Or driving in front of the train!

[-] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

Just hit the damn car. You're a god damned TRAIN!!! CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKER!!!

It's like Paul Heyman told Taz. "If anybody gets in your way, get em' outta your way!"

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[-] Beaver@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 months ago

Canada isn’t even on the podium :P

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[-] RangerJosie@sffa.community 38 points 3 months ago

No. We're not even on board with trains as a concept outside of the context of heavy freight shipping. The people are. But big oil spends a lot of bribe money to make sure you can't easily ride a train across the country.

[-] reddig33@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I wouldn’t doubt Big Airline spends as well.

[-] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 months ago

Big freight train spends a lot on bribing too, to avoid needing to spend even more from being required to improve their services.

[-] Coldgoron@lemmy.world 35 points 3 months ago

I fucking wish. We’re 50 damn years from common sense.

[-] cmbabul@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

You optimist!

[-] ProxyZeus@lemmy.world 33 points 3 months ago

I can't wait for the US to finally have decent public transport, I hate having to drive for everything

[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago

!fuckcars@lemmy.world

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 10 points 3 months ago

I live in a big city with public transport. It's great.

[-] undefined@links.hackliberty.org 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I’m always conflicted because I happen to have an LA Metro train close to me, but riding it is always scary because there are violent people, tweakers, creeps everywhere.

When I was in Mexico City recently the trains there weren’t as pretty and they were packed with people, but I didn’t see people tweaking out left and right (or at all). I actually very much enjoyed using their transit system.

[-] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, LA transit sucks, but it can be better. I wish I lived close to a line in my area (SLC), because every time I end up riding it, I enjoy it.

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[-] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 33 points 3 months ago

I wish. The US is endlessly far behind on public transportation.

Talking to my own family members around the US, they only have eyes for their enormous gas guzzler pickup trucks that they use to run to the grocery store down the street.

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[-] coffee_with_cream@sh.itjust.works 17 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Now that the US doesn't rely on auto manufacturing as its main industry, people are coming around on trains.

But, what's that rule about headlines ending in a question mark? 🤔

[-] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago

No. The answer is always No.

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 9 points 3 months ago

The propaganda does not land, wake me up when we have a semblance of decent rail.

[-] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

I hope your name is Rumplestiltskin, because it gonna be awhile.

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

We actually have more light rail systems than any other country in the world. Those are all electric, but yeah heavy rail is all diesel still.

[-] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

Today on Nightline, is Janice from makeup going to respond favorably to my persistent battery of raunchy pickup lines?

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 15 points 3 months ago

This was not hard to find:

AAR arguing against electrification

[-] Stovetop@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago

If an article title is posed as a question, the answer is always no.

[-] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

I don't understand this article. It talks as if these trains in California are the US' first electric trains.

Our light rail here in Portland OR is electric.

[-] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 months ago

And it's better implemented than LA's. Our system has stations in the middle of barren areas in many places. NIMBYism is a cancer in California.

[-] Liz@midwest.social 6 points 3 months ago

There's only one solution for the US. The world's fastest bullet train network. Anything less will not do.

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this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024

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