http://www.burningjetfuel.com Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:37:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.burningjetfuel.com/?p=12&cpage=1#comment-18 Tripehound Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:37:37 +0000 http://www.burningjetfuel.com/?p=12#comment-18 This analysis fails to account for the costs of infrastructure. The rail costs include the maintainence of infrastructure as charged by the railroads such as track, stations, switching, etc. The analysis says nothing about the costs of maintaining huge airports which are often provided by communities and supported by taxes. These are huge hidden costs that we pay for air travel that are not accounted for in the study. Nor does it account for the potential of increased ridership. If train travel becomes popular, additional coaches can be added at very little additional cost. The airlines would need to add aircraft (an expensive cost) which would also affect schedules. Lets not forget comfort. I am an aeronautical engineer and love airplanes, but for travel, I would rather take the train anytime. This analysis fails to account for the costs of infrastructure. The rail costs include the maintainence of infrastructure as charged by the railroads such as track, stations, switching, etc. The analysis says nothing about the costs of maintaining huge airports which are often provided by communities and supported by taxes. These are huge hidden costs that we pay for air travel that are not accounted for in the study.
Nor does it account for the potential of increased ridership. If train travel becomes popular, additional coaches can be added at very little additional cost. The airlines would need to add aircraft (an expensive cost) which would also affect schedules. Lets not forget comfort. I am an aeronautical engineer and love airplanes, but for travel, I would rather take the train anytime.

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