http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/12/high-speed-trains-are-killing-the-european-railway-network.html
The idea of a nationwide HSR system will lead to the death of the national network. The biggest thing that I got out of the article besides the prices is the fact that the effort to reduce times on European trains has led to fewer nighttime trains and more connections for anyone who can't afford the prices.
I would seriously doubt the objectivity of a magazine called "Low-Tech", whose editor pointedly refuses to fly and appears to be more than just a skeptic in regards to new technologies.
Utter nonsense. The magazine sounds like an intentional joke, i.e., a parody.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Travel by train in Europe is not cheap anymore. HSR, of course, is geared to the business traveler. Even to travel Standard (second) is not cheap on European trains unless you purchase discount fares ahead of time, and I have found they are very difficult to purchase in the United States. Then there are outfits like Easy Jet and Megabus who do compete with the trains at lower cost. Americans are still best off when they purchase Britrail and Eurrail passes in America.
Megabus does not compete with the train in this country. Study after study has demonstrated that there is only a very small percentage transfer from bus to train. The automobile is the largest competitor.
With the internet and tablets and smartphones, purchasing discounted tickets for a specific train trip is easy. However, if you are doing a lot of travel, a Eurailpass or a one or two country railpass, such as an Italian or German Railpass must be purchased outside Europe.
The author also claims that the otherwise competitive through trains on the previously existing routes have been eliminated. That makes sense if the objective is to "encourage" travelers to use the new, more expensive high speed routes. It makes no sense if the objective is to provide the best possible service.
Since the entire system is all government owned, the freedom of consumers to make a choice between competitive alternatives has been eliminated by the railroad bureaucrats with at least the passive approval of the "representatives of the people". It is a political problem, not a technical one.
Mac
The article was written by someone who dislikes technology and clearly is unfamiliar on a first-hand basis with European trains.
As for night trains:
http://www.eurail.com/trains-europe/night-trains/city-night-line
http://www.eurail.com/trains-europe/night-trains
Additionally, the various rail networks are privatized, at least in part. The night train operating companies are not government owned. For example, Germany has several private companies that run trains in competition with DB, which is also only partially government owned.
It is a myth that European trains are not well patronized. With a pass you can still make reservations which will give you a seat. A ticket at a reduced fare does NOT guarantee that you will have a seat, only space. Standing on a train should not be an option. I will never travel in Europe on a train without reservations.
Megabus is serious competition for European and British Trains. Megabus started in Europe and migrated to America.
The HSR lines are crowded, especially on certain days and times. In Germany, a reservation is not required, but often needed. In Italy a reservation is mandatory on the various high speed trains. On the lees fast LD trains and regional trains in Germany, one person can usually find a seat without reservation. On S-bahn there are no reservations.
In Germany, with a pass, you can still pay for a seat reservation which will get you a specific seat.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmannd In Germany, with a pass, you can still pay for a seat reservation which will get you a specific seat.
You can easily buy a ticket from the internet ahead of time, even travelling in Europe you have your smart phone of tab with you don't you? I seem to get all the time incredibly cheap offers from DB and TGV Lyria (latter is a joint marketing cooperation of SBB and SNCF), starting from 19€ from Paris to Zurich or Basel or the other way.
Of course at crowded times booking the ticket the last minute prices can be quite high. And certain countries are a lot more expensive to travel unless you buy a discount card first.
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