America is falling behind in train transportation, and this cannot just be by accident. There have been years of neglect and a push to use cars instead. It’s 1827, and the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad is chartered in Maryland, becoming the first railroad in the United States to be a common carrier for passengers. By 1860, nearly every major city in the North and Midwest had networks that were linked by railroad. The technology continued to advance and grow until 1946, when a decline in public transportation innovation began. Now, in the 21st century, there seems to be more, better, innovative public transportation in foreign countries. In the current times, it is necessary to compare countries such as Japan, China and France with the United States, which appears to be lagging behind in transportation. What have been the advancements that Europe and Asia have made, and how do these compare to those of the United States?
We see multiple countries where public transportation is the backbone of their society. For example, look at Japan! Recognized as having the safest country for transportation, Japan is known for its Shinkansen high-speed rail . For 60 years, this railroad has been operating as the world’s first high-speed rail line. This proves that trains can be quick and reliable, which the United States has unfortunately failed to mimic. Or maybe Hong Kong, with the (mass transit railway) serving with air-conditioned buses, minibusses, and even double-decker trams—no wonder why 98% of the locals have rated this system so positively! And how about London, with its extensive underground system and fleet of red double-decker buses. In 2025, named London the best in Europe’s public transportation system. These are just a few of the many examples of areas globally that provide fast, reliable, affordable and widely used public transportation.
Looking at North America’s most recent improvements, the best public transit we see in America is in New York City, with a 24/7 subway and high ridership (riders as of 2024). As well as Chicago and Washington D.C., where comprehensive subway systems are available for use and easy access, offering a viable, car-free lifestyle. While this is America’s best, it still does not come close to other previously mentioned options that are available in foreign countries. On top of that, the rest of America is not so lucky, with limited access to these options for transportation. Most areas require you to own a car to get to work. And if there is the option of public transportation, there is poor reliability or unkept facilities.
It begs the question, then, why is America so behind? Well, according to , one factor is that there has been an underinvestment in public transportation. Historically, it has been seen that U.S. transportation favors highways over public transit. America has focused more on road construction and maintenance over the years instead. This deliberate choice to prioritize highways over railroads only reinforces the dependency we have on cars. Instead, a long-term investment in trains would be more suitable and helpful for continuing the development of America.
Another factor is America’s car-centric . Primarily after World War II, America focused on building highways and plowing out much of the extensive public transportation (especially streetcar systems). The cities were built around the idea that every household would own a car, whereas in countries like Japan and some European nations, the cities were developed around public transit systems.
So, how could more and better train systems benefit the country? There is an obvious reason for environmental well-being. Developing more train systems would lead to a reduction in fuel dependency. According to , public transportation saves the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually—and more than 11 million gallons of gas a day. This is a cleaner alternative to the millions of individual cars that run every day.
Trains have been proven to efficiently get people to where they need to go without adding more cars to the already heavily crowded roads. With trains reducing congestion, people are able to make it to work and activities on time without having to leave thirty minutes early to “beat the morning traffic.” In 2011, showed that U.S. public transportation use saved 865 million hours in travel time.
While this issue may not seem dire to most, the reality and side effects should not be ignored, and the benefits for the mass majority should be recognized! Public transport is a safer way to travel. Globally, road traffic crashes cause almost deaths a year. If this is not a wake-up call, I don’t know what is. This large number depicts the dangers of a car-dependent society. On top of that, trains boost the economy by connecting people to jobs, leisure, tourism, and increasing land and property value. If that is not enough, look at the benefits of the poorer areas having through these transportation opportunities.
The list goes on. At the end of the day, yes, America is behind in public transportation, but it does not need to stay that way! The global success of trains should prove to be a viable solution to the underdeveloped systems we have now. Public transit overall offers a better quality of life, access to work and other activities in the community, and an obvious environmental impact. Good public transit, namely train systems, is possible, but it just needs to be prioritized. Let’s not choose to continue falling behind on such a vital part of society.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.