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Why Trains are so Expensive

Wendover Productions · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Transit, cities & urban planningBusiness & economics (other)

What it is

A Wendover Productions explainer on why train tickets, especially Amtrak in the US, cost so much compared with flying. It breaks down staffing, speed and the cost components behind a ticket.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN links it in rail-versus-air threads as a clear cost breakdown of American passenger rail.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2022

What HN commenters said

  1. “And another great one about AmTrak in relation to flight”

    Wendover on Amtrak compared to flying

    djsumdog, 2017-04 · Recommendation · in “How the Airlines Became Cartels”

  2. “There's a good video that breaks down the costs that make up your train ticket”

    Breaks down the costs that make up a train ticket

    MrFoof, 2018-01 · Recommendation · in “California bullet train cost surges by $2.8B”

  3. “This video does a pretty good explonation i think”

    Explains Amtrak staffing and cost

    pocketstar, 2018-04 · Recommendation · in “Want airline food? Take Amtrak”

  4. “This video is a good analysis.”

    Analysis of train versus air costs and personnel

    rdl, 2018-04 · Recommendation · in “Want airline food? Take Amtrak”

  5. “I recently watched which covered much of the cost breakdowns - especially for American passenger rail.”

    Cost breakdowns, especially for American passenger rail

    MaulingMonkey, 2020-02 · Recommendation · in “More emphasis on trains in Europe to replace flights”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: amtrak, trains, transportation costs, airlines, wendover

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