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Comment by pmayrgundter | Hacker News Reader

How is this 125 mph when it's same travel time as by car?

YT vid says Journey Time: 3 hr 33 min

Google maps says this 3h30m by car MCO to MIA.

Security overhead on the train looks medium, with TSA-style scanners but otherwise normal walk-up access when train arrives.

1h flight (tho add 1-2h for airport overhead)

Price: $79 (Smart), $149 (Premium)

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If you fly or drive, it’s about the same time but you arrive feeling drained. The train is cheaper and you arrive feeling refreshed. Travel should be pleasant and enjoyable, like the golden days of aviation!

That wasn't the question -- the question was why a 125mph train takes the same time to travel as it takes a 70mph car to make the same trip from station to station? Calling it a "125mph" train (because that's its max speed) when the average speed is 68mph seems dishonest.

the train has to stop at intermediate stations.

For most of the route, it cannot go that fast. It is mid-speed rail, at best.

Brightline takes a bit of a longer path (straight to the coast and down) than can via car (more direct).

I wondered the same thing. I think 125 mph is peak, not average, speed. I think average speed is something like 70 mph.

thx all, yeah, suspected as much. I guess it's also their maiden trip, so maybe they'll tune up the route in the future. I think when Acela started in Northeast it took awhile before it was regularly up to speed

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