Having ridden trains in GB, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Germany, I am impressed with rail passenger service there (except for narrow gauge and other tourist trains,
I have never ridden a passenger train here). Their convenience and availability is
great! I would rather drive, but have combined driving and train trips to make for an
interesting trip. One thing I wonder, and may have asked this question before, is
why is electicity so often the mode of power in Europe and so infrequently here?
One reason Europeans use electrical power for trains is that they have a lot of hydro electrical power especially in countries such as Switzerland. France uses nuclear power. I am not sure about Germany. Electrical power is well suited for mountain railroading with many tunnels and in high density corridors between closely space cities. Europe has both in abundant supply. Electrical power also prevents pollution in cities. This is one reason New York banned steam power in the early 1900s. Another factor is that government can afford the massive capital expenditures needed to build an overhead power grid for the trains.
There are probably a lot of other reasons. Joe
