Europeans are mocking Americans for our limited railroads

The limited number of railroads in the US, especially compared to Europe’s sleek high-speed trains, has become an online punchline.

Social media is flooded with maps showing Europe’s dense, almost city-block-level rail networks, while the US map looks extremely empty in comparison.

Americans aren’t exactly phased; after all, driving cross-country in a car with snacks, music, and zero strangers next to you does have its appeal.

But the jokes keep coming, and it’s hard to ignore just how sparse the country’s passenger rail system really is, especially when looking at these maps.

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The limited railroads mean taking the train isn’t very efficient

Here’s the surprising reality: the US actually has the largest railway network by size, based on the length of rail lines.

However, it’s mostly for freight.

Passenger services like Amtrak exist, but they’re limited to a few main corridors, like the Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington, DC, or long scenic routes like the California Zephyr.

Outside of these, trains are slow, infrequent, and often stuck sharing tracks with freight.

Even if you take a train into a city, you often still need a car to get where you want to go.

That’s why many Americans would rather hop in a car: you go when you want, stop where you want, and pack as much luggage as you can fit in.

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Modern high-speed rail is so fast that it could make sense

Still, Europeans have a point regarding the limited railroads in the US.

After all, countries like the UK and France manage to cram more rails into a space smaller than Texas, and still make it work beautifully.

High-speed trains zip from Paris to Berlin, Milan to Rome, and London to Edinburgh with clockwork precision.

Rail travel is significantly better for the environment, even without considering the fact that taking the train could potentially power thousands of homes in the future.

It also reduces congestion, making it unnecessary to keep adding a ridiculous number of lanes to freeways.

Advocates suggest that linking busy corridors like the West Coast or the East Coast with real high-speed rail could transform US travel.

Considering maglev trains in China are capable of travelling at speeds of up to 435 mph, adopting such technology could make many city pairs feasible by rail.

For now, though, Europe keeps the memes coming, while Americans shrug and plan their next road trip.

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