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0 pointsdjvdq3y ago0 comments

Let's say that I want to have better train infrastructure. How much will it cost me to build that, according to your thinking?

0 comments

seibelj3y ago

I would rather a private company build it, or in a public / private partnership, so we at least have some semblance of breaking-even if not a small profit.

Our current train systems are so woefully wasteful, inefficient, prone to breaking down, and so on that simply giving the same corruption more money would be extremely unwise.

BossingAround3y ago

I see no real reason why public transport must be necessarily profitable. It's a common good that tax payers enjoy. You'll have profitable legs, but you'll also have legs that are used by a few folks from a village who need to get to the city once a week, and those will never be profitable. A private company would probably not build there.

djvdqOP3y ago

Exactly, public transit doesn't need to be profitable. IIRC there are studies showing that unprofitable public transport is positive for economy and profitable if you'd look at it as whole economy in general.

ceeplusplus3y ago

Because without the need to be profitable, you get gross incompetence, corruption, and waste. See: California HSR, BART expansion, NYC subway expansion.

The power of the market forces private businesses to offer quality service. A privately run subway would never allow drug addicts and thieves run rampant on the train like they're allowed to in NYC and the Bay.

Pro tip: if I feel scared for my life or property at any point during a transit, you've already lost against a car.

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Tepix3y ago

Better than Germany? Not much... it's a train wreck (ha!)

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