Image transcript:
Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes) sitting at a lemonade stand, smiling, with a sign that reads, "Trains and micromobility are inevitably the future of urban transportation, whether society wants it or not. CHANGE MY MIND."
this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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Well in the UK, considering that a return ticket to London for commuting hours costs me £140, no, it is not the future here. I could drive most of the way from home into London, pay the ULEZ charge, park in an expensive train station car park and get a short distance train for a third of that, including fuel.
But that's an issue with capitalism, not the technology itself. Roads and high(motor)ways are very heavily subsidized and tax funded, while rail in the UK is largely privatized. It's just a sign of what is being prioritized by government and/or society, which is cars in this case. There are plenty of places where public transit is free or at least the definitive cheapest way to travel, also due to government funding.
Trains are directly linked to capitalism, not sure what you are getting at here. They require incredible amounts of capital to build, and incredible amounts of money to operate. They enabled the industrialization.
Communist countries also, in fact, received their trains from capitalist countries. Russia had hardly any before the US started supplying them during the industrialization process by Albert Kahn and associates.
The most train centric countries in the world are also the most capitalist. Whether that's state run capitalism or private, state run generally provides more passenger rail service. However, Japan is an exception there with its JR Rail.
"The most train centric countries in the world are also the most capitalist."
That's because most countries in the world are capitalist mate.
Also, if you acknowledge that JR Rail is not capitalist, even if China is defined as a state capitalist country you still have to acknowledge that the rail system itself is not capitalist (it is also state owned like JR rail).
The fact is once profit is prioritised in something like mass public transportation, it starts to go to shit. That's why American rail is so shit, that's why every place in the UK has shit public transportation after privitisation bar a few cities like Nottingham, London and Manchester, and why it's so expensive to get from city to city. Countries with largely state owned public transport tend to do better with their public transport.
No, I was actually pointing out that JR rail is not a state run passenger rail corporation, unlike Amtrak in the United States, DB in Germany and SNCF in France. It's fully private and is only profitable due to Japan's extreme population density and narrow shinkansen corridor between Tokyo and Osaka.
It is in fact fully privatized, or "capitalist."
Last time I drove from Berkeley to downtown Sam Francisco it took me almost two hours. Would have been much shorter by BART.
In Japan a train ticket on an express train to central Tokyo from the suburbs 50 miles away would cost you around $30. The local trains would be around $10-$15.
$110 will get you about 300 km by high speed shinkansen, say Tokyo to Nagoya.
You can blame privatisation for that.
Price gouging might be just a trend that dies with Boomers.
so doing the right thing is right out because it's a bit more out of your pocketbook to give a shit about the wellbeing of the next generation?
Your kids must love you. sorry you little shits, it wasn't convenient for dad and would cost me a few quid so fuck your future.
There are limits to what people can afford.
if you can afford a car, you can afford british rail tickets mate. pull your head out of your arse you bellend.
seven lardasses downvoted me because they drive to the tesco every fuckin' day and they'll be damned if someone calls them on it lol
They downvoted you because you're drunk posting and being an asshole.
Let's see: The world is burning. Let's promote people driving more.
Fucking hell, our species deserves to die with assholes like you reinforcing it.
The cost of commuting to London via train every day would be more than my entire salary lmao, what are you on about. I work remotely for the most part anyway, which is better for the environment than taking the train every day.
so you injected yourself into a debate that has nothing to do with you because... you were lonely?
bored?
Is this what life is for you, just jumping into arguments that don't concern you then wondering why everyone is yelling?
Life must be very confusing for you. Go back to west cunterland or new dickshire and mind your own fucking business ffs knobby
From the look of your manic responses to almost every comment, you're the only one yelling. I think you're projecting 😉
I'm just surprised you think at all. Good for you sparky. Have a good life.
Nothing's stopping you from sending them money to cover the cost.
oh ok, whom do I make the check out to you bellend? MR BRITISH PUBLIC ESQ., HAVE 12 QUID THERE YOU GO?
why do you even type out replies this stupid.... fuck man, do they pay you to be so thick?
If you aren't willing to put your money where your mouth is, you're just putting on a show. It's a performative belief. Don't criticize someone for a spending decision when you're not willing to make it either.
how about eat a dick, and mind your own. Take your performative critique and shove it up your rectum sideways?
I'm not going to dox myself for your edification dipshit. My charity work is valid, but not your business.
How much do they pay you to be this thick?
I thought it was patently obvious that I was making a rhetorical point and not seriously telling you to send them money, but apparently not.
The only thing obvious is that you're an asshole and I should have blocked you instead of replying. Won't make that mistake again.
Looks like we're both better off then.