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