Which country has the best trains?

[Krazykat112079]

I have to say, the most amusing and cool locomotive has to go to Japan.  What other country has chubby-cheek engines screaming down the rails?  As far as a whole train, it has to be the U.S.  While I'm not a big fan after the locomotive goes by, you still have to be impressed with the length, rivaling even the longest of paved runways in the world.

[TH&B]

Germany has great freight trains. The second largest hump yard complex near Hamburg is a close second only to UP Bailey ((how they measure this I don't understand with such different operting prcedures)). The most modernand newest yard in the world is near Dresden. Feight cars vary from ordinary 2 axle cars for lighter loads to heavy 165 ton ore and steel cars used loosely or in unit trains. Electric and diesel trains, steam trains as recently as the late 1980's, a great variety of equipement and high volume railways mixed with dense passenger trains. Germany has some very heavy industrial areas. Heavy trains over 5000 tons travel at 50mph but some freights go 125mph !!!  

 

And weirdest of all is....... flat spots aren't very commun, very smooth running trains. Of all the railways I've traveled Germany has the smoothest track ever, even on secondary routes.

[ironhorseman]

Ironhorseman, I know you're German and so, you defend the German trains but France has undoubtly the best, fastest and most reliable fast trains in all of Europe. The service is good, too. Germany has been trying to beat the French on speed for decades, and so far did only succeed for short periods of time. The French (with the latest double floor TGV's for example) are far ahead, sorry.

 For freight trains, I'd say USA, Canada, Australia, Mauritania have the most impressive trains.

 

I'm not German, at least I don't think I am, my sheperd was german, but I bought him in Kansas and that's another matter all together. I've merely lived in Deutschland for the last couple years because that's where the Army sent me. Like I stated origionally, I based my opinion on the five three countries I've ridden trains in. Of those five three, I like the German passenger train system the best. Perhaps before my time is up I could schedule a trip to France. And maybe London. And after seeing London and France perhaps I'll see these underpants everyone's been talking about. Maybe they lie to the south somewhere in the Alps. But God Alps those that Alps themselves. And if I could Alp myself to all the leave time I wanted, plus a couple thou in Euros, then I would travel to France by train. A round trip ticket for two to Italy cost me 500Euro. And at the current exchange rate I can barely afford tea for two or trains for me. Speaking of tea I just ran out. I better get some more before China gets worried. I should get a direct railroad line to my house. But I'm not going to rate the Chinese railroad, having not seen it first hand. But that's just my opinion.

[Railfan1]

U.S. trains are the only ones that interest me.

[tomikawaTT]

This is one of those, "Which country has the prettiest girls?" questions...

If you've never been there, how would you know?

I, personally, vote for Japan.  Having lived there for a dozen years, I'll admit that I'm biased, but the only place in the US that has a similar traffic density is the New York subway system.  And no way is a straphanger special better than a Japanese long-distance EMU set.

Chuck

[chefjavier]

This is one of those, "Which country has the prettiest girls?" questions...

If you've never been there, how would you know?

I, personally, vote for Japan.  Having lived there for a dozen years, I'll admit that I'm biased, but the only place in the US that has a similar traffic density is the New York subway system.  And no way is a straphanger special better than a Japanese long-distance EMU set.

Chuck

Chuck:

Are you talking about the subway system? Did you check Hong Kong, Korea, and  mailand China that are still using some steam.

[tomikawaTT]

This is one of those, "Which country has the prettiest girls?" questions...

If you've never been there, how would you know?

I, personally, vote for Japan.  Having lived there for a dozen years, I'll admit that I'm biased, but the only place in the US that has a similar traffic density is the New York subway system.  And no way is a straphanger special better than a Japanese long-distance EMU set.

Chuck

Chuck:

Are you talking about the subway system? Did you check Hong Kong, Korea, and  mailand China that are still using some steam.

Nope.  I'm talking about traffic density on long-distance mainline routes, which is comparable to that on the New York subways.  The US railroads prided themselves on running a few trains a day from, say, New York to Chicago.  Tokyo to Osaka had almost that many expresses per HOUR!  Also, when I was last there, Japan was just about to phase out steam (1975.)  There are still quite a few heritage steam locos operating in tourist service there.

Been to Korea, not interested in going back.  China and (now communist) Hong Kong?  As a retired military type, I'm more than a bit leery of going into what I still think of as enemy territory.  Aside from which, if I want to see steam in (occasional) operation, I can do it in three fixed places without even leaving my home state (Carson City, Ely and Virginia City.)

Chuck

[chefjavier]

This is one of those, "Which country has the prettiest girls?" questions...

If you've never been there, how would you know?

I, personally, vote for Japan.  Having lived there for a dozen years, I'll admit that I'm biased, but the only place in the US that has a similar traffic density is the New York subway system.  And no way is a straphanger special better than a Japanese long-distance EMU set.

Chuck

Chuck:

Are you talking about the subway system? Did you check Hong Kong, Korea, and  mailand China that are still using some steam.

Nope.  I'm talking about traffic density on long-distance mainline routes, which is comparable to that on the New York subways.  The US railroads prided themselves on running a few trains a day from, say, New York to Chicago.  Tokyo to Osaka had almost that many expresses per HOUR!  Also, when I was last there, Japan was just about to phase out steam (1975.)  There are still quite a few heritage steam locos operating in tourist service there.

Been to Korea, not interested in going back.  China and (now communist) Hong Kong?  As a retired military type, I'm more than a bit leery of going into what I still think of as enemy territory.  Aside from which, if I want to see steam in (occasional) operation, I can do it in three fixed places without even leaving my home state (Carson City, Ely and Virginia City.)

Chuck

Chuck:

Did you get to see the Railroads in Phillipines and Thailand? I was military as well and stationed all over Asia.

[rixflix]

I'm in love again!!!

just got my Trains mag and now it's China's narrow gauge line. Always loved the Reading from growing up with it when it was near to death. Friends kept telling me to go see East Broad Top but I feared falling for it and resisted going because I really knew it would win me over and upset my cozy world. When I finally went to EBT it did just that. And now comes Huanan Forestry Railway. If I can get off this continent I'd like to ride Darjeeling-Himalayan. I guess I'm narrower gauging.

Flix

 

[Tulyar15]

Ironhorseman, I know you're German and so, you defend the German trains but France has undoubtly the best, fastest and most reliable fast trains in all of Europe. The service is good, too.

 Having travelled in both France and Spain, I think I'd say the Spanish trains are better than French. The French high speed trains are good but on the rest of their lines they only have about two trains a day. On the Spanish high speed trains the drinks are cheaper and the food better!

[howard]

Switzerland.  Nothing even close!

[Anonymous]

Japan AND South Korea!

They have fantastic trains!!!!!!! 

 

 

 

[JT22CW]

we (the USA) are the number one in freight

I don't think so.  Fast freight is all but dead in this country.  Rail freight, even today with higher diesel prices, keeps losing market share to trucks.  Every time I see a double-stack container train, I'm reminded of how much the USA has lost in terms of domestic industry, and how foolish that is.  I'd trade every container train we have for fast boxcars.

[chefjavier]

we (the USA) are the number one in freight

I don't think so.  Fast freight is all but dead in this country.  Rail freight, even today with higher diesel prices, keeps losing market share to trucks.  Every time I see a double-stack container train, I'm reminded of how much the USA has lost in terms of domestic industry, and how foolish that is.  I'd trade every container train we have for fast boxcars.

I disagree with your information. In fact, we have a shorter of long haul truck drivers. Our imports has increase. If you notice L.A. ports we have alot of imports from China. It's all double-stack trains coming out of those ports. Freight is huge coming out of Mexico.

[Nataraj]

All I have to say, its europe as a whole hands down. America is a third world country when it comes to passenger trains.

But freight on the other hand, i think the USA is among the best.

[GDRMCo]

USA! i'm not a fan of foreign trains at all. they dont look anything like the trains around here.

I wonder why...

GDRMCo;

You may think Australia and other countries are better but the true facts are, Who got the must locomotive power? Let me give you an hint> US

Theres electric locos in Sweden hauling iron ore with the MOST (not must) horsepower in the country,  7241.52hp, the closest the US has to offer is unreliable toasters and EMDs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IORE 

[trainboyH16-44]

chefjavier, you seem to be missing the point. Power isn't everything! Geez!

[Anonymous]

For me, freight trains are utterly fascinating - passenger trains are rather dull.

On that basis, the US seems to me to have the coolest variety of freight trains. Switzerland is probably the most scenic, though most countries have the odd scenic route - the "garden route" between George and Mossel Bay in South Africa operated by steam locomotives is just one example that springs to mind... 

[chefjavier]

USA! i'm not a fan of foreign trains at all. they dont look anything like the trains around here.

I wonder why...

GDRMCo;

You may think Australia and other countries are better but the true facts are, Who got the must locomotive power? Let me give you an hint> US

Theres electric locos in Sweden hauling iron ore with the MOST (not must) horsepower in the country,  7241.52hp, the closest the US has to offer is unreliable toasters and EMDs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IORE 

GDRMCO:

I refer to diesel locomotive. I know the electric are more powerful in HP traction. Thanks for the information.

[trainboyH16-44]

Well then guess what?

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=88917

You're on an even footing with them  

[chefjavier]

Small

[Tulyar15]

I'd say Holland. Their system runs like clockwork, the fares cheap and the staff friendly - most of them speak good English too! There's also lots of freight too, much of it to/from the port of Rotterdam. There's also a number of Open Access operators who use an interesting mix of new and old, diesel and electric locos.