XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: jclarkeusenet@cox.net   
      
   In article , robban@clubtelco.com   
   says...   
   >   
   > On 15/01/2014 11:36 am, J. Clarke wrote:   
   > > In article , robban@clubtelco.com   
   > > says...   
   > >>   
   > >> On 14/01/2014 6:34 pm, J. Clarke wrote:   
   > >>> In article , robban@clubtelco.com   
   > >>> says...   
   >   
   > >>> There are trains going into most major cities in the US.  Few of them   
   > >>> are "packed".   
   > >>>   
   > >>   
   > >> I believe that is mainly because they are old and slow.   
   > >   
   > > No, it is because even if they went at the speed of light they would   
   > > still be inconvenient.   
   >   
   > Is that because they don't go to the right places?   
      
   Or from them.   
      
   > I don't use trains   
   > much myself because a) there is no station nearby and b) they don't go   
   > anywhere I want to go to or that I can't get easier another way.   
      
   I have occasionally taken the train to New York.  It takes longer than   
   driving, mostly because there is at least one transfer and sometimes two   
   on the way, and the only reason it's cheaper is the astronomical cost of   
   New York parking.   
      
   > However, many thousands do use them here in Perth, and yet they are   
   > relatively new. The old diesel service was smelly and unreliable, but   
   > electric trains can accelerate and decelerate much faster than diesels,   
   > and of course they're cleaner. Much of the rail system goes down the   
   > middle of two of our freeways, and when you're stuck in the traffic it   
   > is quite annoying to see a train go whizzing past.   
      
   Good marketing though.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)