You’ve got plenty of trains and train lines, but your government, unlike most of the world, refuses to subsidise public transit, so they all go for the option that’s most profits-per-km, Freight
Apparently this is a weak point for Europe, and even other rail systems like China’s. The US has a relatively efficient cargo rail network, while more stuff is shipped across the EU in trucks than it probably should be.
That would be nice, but only ~4% of the new trucks in the EU where electric in 2025. And there are a lot of old trucks which are almost exclusively ice-vehicles.
Eh. I wasn’t specifically thinking of emissions, but overall cost, manpower, and road congestion.
Diesel cargo trains dramatically reduce all that vs an electric 18 wheeler, even if EV trucks are prevalent. Though I suspect they’re still pretty rare.
Freight Trains in USA, for comparison.
You’ve got plenty of trains and train lines, but your government, unlike most of the world, refuses to subsidise public transit, so they all go for the option that’s most profits-per-km, Freight
Another one I found:
Apparently this is a weak point for Europe, and even other rail systems like China’s. The US has a relatively efficient cargo rail network, while more stuff is shipped across the EU in trucks than it probably should be.
Just box your self and call UPS and boom you’re on the train
Well, Electric Trucks are prevalent now, so still pretty efficient
That would be nice, but only ~4% of the new trucks in the EU where electric in 2025. And there are a lot of old trucks which are almost exclusively ice-vehicles.
edit: source
Eh. I wasn’t specifically thinking of emissions, but overall cost, manpower, and road congestion.
Diesel cargo trains dramatically reduce all that vs an electric 18 wheeler, even if EV trucks are prevalent. Though I suspect they’re still pretty rare.
To add,
https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2026/02/why-are-american-passenger-trains-slow/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/02/east-west-rail-oxford-milton-keynes-chiltern-railways-delays
Yeah, UK is the worst train service in Europe, that’s nothing new.
That’s cause the UK privatised 90% of rail in the 1980s
Try Barcelona suburban rail service (aka ‘Rodalies RENFE’).