>but trains are also directly subsidised to the tune of billions each year. The rail network just costs a ton to build and maintain.
Just wait until you hear about how subsidised the infrastructure for cars and trucks are.
Just wait until you hear about how subsidised the infrastructure for cars and trucks are.
The difference is that trains operate at a loss even with high ticket prices and operational subsidies are necessary for market viability. That is not the case with car and truck usage.
I felt like private cars (the ones that are not taxi/commercial) just stay in one place the majority of its lifetime.
Pre-covid, I had a 45 minute commute. The other 22.5 hours my car just stayed in one place. Engine off. Road trips unfortunately don't happen often for me.
Trains, trucks, planes, and even taxis are probably running/flying more than it's staying still.
As others have told you, you are wrong.
US highways do pay for themselves (<https://web.archive.org/web/20130515013017/http://www.rita.d...>) (non-PDF version: <https://web.archive.org/web/20170712175437/http://www.rita.d...>), and help pay for other modes of transportation. Transit receives the biggest subsidy per passenger-mile, with rail and airlines in between.
(For those wishing more detail: From the executive summary (<https://web.archive.org/web/20170628114204/http://www.rita.d...>):
>*Highways*
>Users of the highway passenger transportation system paid significantly greater amounts of money to the federal government than their allocated costs in 1994-2000. This was a result of the increase in the deficit reduction motor fuel tax rates between October 1993 and September 1997, and the increase in Highway Trust Fund fuel tax rates starting in October 1997.
>School and transit buses received positive net federal subsidies over the 1990-2002 period, but autos, motorcycles, pickups and vans, and intercity buses paid more than their allocated cost to the federal government.
>On average, highway users paid $1.91 per thousand passenger-miles to the federal government over their highway allocated cost during 1990-2002.)