Don’t get me wrong, I would absolutely dearly love to have proper trains running on time to every location.

But we basically made a souffle, and you’re asking us to turn it into chocolate cake.

We could get away with an advanced network of buses.

Buses are great for public transit and the most cost effective option for some communities. There also seems to be a stigma against buses, though, where people are more willing to take a train than a bus. I’m starting to suspect that stigma extends to people wanting to build trains instead of buses that can get the same job done for less money than building a brand new train system.

There also seems to be a stigma against buses, though, where people are more willing to take a train than a bus.

I’ll absolutely take a train over a bus if they are going to the same destination.

• train has fewer stops meaning train reaches the destination faster
• train has ultimate right-of-way, and doesn’t have to stop for pedestrians on the tracks, red lights, or other things
• trains in some cities, go under waterways meaning more direct routes than busses
• there’s more space inside trains and usually more choice of seats. Standing is also an option which isn’t allowed on most busses
• acceleration and deceleration are more predictable and comfortable
• nearly all metro light rail trains are powered by electricity, while many city busses remain diesel

Most of those can addressed by busses too actually.

Train has fewer stops meaning train reaches the destination faster Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or any bus line can have less stop for this reason. To expand on BRT routes, they can be dedicated lanes for busses, with right of way. They can be specific only for busses, and cars not allowed to use it ever or also mixed usage where certain rush hours are for bus use only but outside those hours can be used by other vehicles. Train has ultimate right-of-way, and doesn’t have to stop for pedestrians on the tracks, red lights, or other things This can also be done with BRT routes. trains in some cities, go under waterways meaning more direct routes than busses BRT as well. there’s more space inside trains and usually more choice of seats. Standing is also an option which isn’t allowed on most busses Busses can absolutely support this. Paris has more open busses to allow more people standing or people with disabilities. acceleration and deceleration are more predictable and comfortable With dedicated BRT lanes, I believe that can also be done considering there’s only bus stops that need to be slowed down on. Nearly all metro light rail trains are powered by electricity, while many city busses remain diesel I know technically electric busses are possible, but I’m not certain how feasible this is.

My understanding is that BRT routes are cheaper and faster to setup than trains, and can be upgraded to trains. I’m not saying BRT is better than light or heavy rail, but that should be a more common path for mass transit that is not utilized in the US.

• trains can drive at higher speeds than buses
• train wheels don’t emit microplastic particles like bus tires do
• trains are significantly safer than buses
• trains move on tracks which results in them moving in a stable and predictable way while buses often shake more which can result in people feeling sick (happens to me often when taking the bus)

train wheels don’t emit microplastic particles like bus tires do

we can help solve this by using plastic breaks on trains