why is it so much cheaper to fly long distances than to take the train (in the US)?
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In terms of the cost to deliver the service, passenger rail is almost universally more expensive than the alternatives. For short distances, roads – and busses – are significantly cheaper than rails. For long distances, the lack of need for infrastructure except at the end points makes air a superior option.
The reason you see rail prevalent in other developed nations is a combination of subsidies – many related to the fact that rail provides good union jobs – and high taxes on aviation fuel. The U.S. does subsidize rail, but not nearly to the same extent. Likewise, while the U.S. does tax aviation fuel, it’s not nearly as severe. So the inherent efficiency of air wins out.
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