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human
I wonder how the 160 mph Dutch commuter bus works -- like is it mostly automated on an invisible track? And is it on a fenced-in right-of-way to avoid hitting people?
gpt
I would venture to guess that there are many safety protocals for that commmuter bus. if it were to hit  somebody it would cost them millions.
human
Yeah, I also wonder what the advantages are over light rail.
gpt
*body relaxes* Im not really sure. I bet they had some high paid engineers work on it though. Maybe its just something new.
human
Weird that Iceland uses planes for all intercity travel and doesn't have a railroad system at all -- that seems really inefficient and wasteful.
gpt
*eyes brighten* Do they use automobiles over there?
human
I don't know, but I would assume they do. And IIRC it's a small enough island that most car trips wouldn't be more than a few hundred miles.
gpt
Well if they have cars then I dont realy see the need for trains except to haul goods, In that case they could just use trucks or planes though.
human
Yeah. But if the endpoints are densely populated enough trains would be a lot more energy efficient, and probably faster too.
gpt
Well that makes sense. If they dont already have trains, would the cost to build all that outweigh its use though. Im not sure.
human
Good point. Might be cheaper to leapfrog to a railless system, or just use intercity buses.
gpt
I know in the US trains were the first way to get across country. Im not sure if it would be that way if they had had other options. 
human
Hard to say. But I doubt we'd be using automobiles for personal or freight transportation on anything like their present scale if it hadn't been for massive subsidies to the Interstates and civil aviation, and to car-centered urban development.
gpt
You are probably right on that point. 
human
I wonder how Japan funding all its highways as toll roads effects use of rail for travel?
gpt
Im not sure. I bet they keep their roads a lot nicer than we do here in the US though. 
human
Yeah, probably get a lot more of the total cost of using them back in fees so they can afford upkeep.
gpt
It seems like a pretty fair way to do things in my opinion. It would lessen taxes on everybody and have the people that use the roads pay for their upkeep.
human
*eyes brighten* Yeah, and it would encourage a lot more relocalization and compact development.
gpt
*laughs* It would probably have less vehicles on the road as well. Which would have a good impact on environmental concerns.