• PhineaZ@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        For Cargo, population is not really a factor. A 600 People Hamlet can have a freight train running several times a day because there is a mine. A 10,000 soul city might not have any freight lines. For passenger trains, people are the cargo, i.e. there have to be enough people wanting to take a train

    • pedz@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      This is a myth that is also used in Canada to make sure nobody demands public transit and keep using cars. Both our countries were literally developed by railroads. And now we maintain a vast road network to all of those small towns that also costs billions.

      Somehow we’re dense enough for highways, electricity distribution and phone lines but not railroads.

      https://tile.loc.gov/image-services/iiif/service:gmd:gmd370:g3701:g3701p:rr000640/full/pct:12.5/0/default.jpg