High Speed Travel in the US?

If you have traveled in Europe, you know how helpful high speed trains are.  Usually less expensive than short haul flights, they are especially convenient when crossing country borders.  They are also great for connecting  cities in the same country!  One runs underneath the English Channel and connects the UK with the rest of Europe.  They are also located throughout in Europe with more  scheduled to open  in 2031. As one who has traveled these trains, I can vouch for the ease they provide!

In the US, there are currently only two high speed trains- the Brightline in Florida and the Amtrak Acela in the northeast.  In one way they are similar to their European cousins-  they are not luxury lines or designed for folks who are interested  in  admiring scenery. While The Acela, located in the northeast, is  basically used by business travelers, the Brightline is a bit different. While business travelers do use it, the majority of it’s riders are tourists.  It makes  travel between Orlando and South Florida a breeze.  Tourists looking for a way to easily move around the state love it.  They also appreciate Brightline’s emphasis on kid-centered family travel. 

Compared to Europe, the US is way behind in high speed train travel.  Why is this? One of the reasons is infrastructure.  Many tracks are ancient and many of the trains travel through densely populated cities – creating choke points-nullifying the point of high speed.  There were (and continue to be) many plans to build these trains in different parts of the country.  So far, however, most of these plans have not made it to fruition.  

What do you think about high speed travel in the US?  Drop me a note and let me know!