Rail System

Europe  vs.  US

Rail System

Why are these so vastly different?

Europe  vs.  US

Table of contents

Table of contents

  1. Past history

  2. Present state

  3. Problems

  4. Why are these so
    vastly different?

  5. Future

past history

Europe

development

  • invention of the steam engine in 1712
  • private investors build railways → fast growth
  • "railwaymania"
  • impossible without the government

stagnation

  • much damage because of world wars
  • only built in national borders
  • rapid expansion of cars and air-travel in the 1960s and 1970s

resurrection

  • more attention, because of climate change
  • plans to reform the European railway market
  • investments get bigger (still not enough)

past history

United States

development

  • during french indian war british engineers built rail
  • connection of east and west coast in 1869
  • "railwaymania" similar to Europe

stagnation

  • rapid expansion of cars and air-travel in 1960s
  • affordability of cars and trucks
  • building of Interstate Highway System
  • deconstruction of railways

present state

Europe

eu map

Europe

  • rail companies amassed massive debts
    • Germany DB: 29.3 billion €
    • France SNCF: 35.26 billion €
    • Spain Adif: 15.86 billion €
    → massive problems
  • 90% arrive on time
  • plan: reform & single European railway market

United States

us map

United States

  • small rail infrastructure
  • only 2% of infrastructure owned by Amtrak
  • more suited for freight transportation
  • 46% of trains arrive on time

problems

Europe

biggest problem: unstandardization

problems

  • unstandardization
    • gauge system
    • electrification system
    • train control system
    • End-User Experience
      • → riding international difficult
  • underinvestment into infrastructure

What is being done about it?

  • gradual norming of electrification systems
  • ERTMS (European rail traffic management system) to unify
  • still no talks about unified ticketing service until now

United States

biggest problem: past underfunding, lobbying

problems

  • past underfunding, lobbying
    • accidents
    • delays
    → freight companies invest

Why are these so different?

  • political decisions
  • past mindset
  • less lobbying in europe

Why are these so different?

  • political decisions
  • past mindset
  • less lobbying in europe


→ US network is 30 years behind

future

Europe & USA

  • more, better connections
    • california high speed rail
    • Berlin-Verona line
  • more budget for rail
  • more political support

Thanks for your attention