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bugi_ t1_iy5swrr wrote

Reply to comment by common_sensei in ELI5 How do slipstreams work? by Da_Dokta

Leave it to Americans to reinvent trains in a super complicated way.

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yogert909 t1_iy75mr7 wrote

Semi-autonomous vehicles on existing roadways is way less expensive and less complicated than building completely new rail lines everywhere.

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bugi_ t1_iy7fkbf wrote

How is it less complicated? We need new technology for that to happen. On the other hand we have trains right now. Tested and ready to go. There are all kinds of safety issues with having those trucks on public roads with other traffic which might mean they don't get approval any time soon.

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yogert909 t1_iy8bprk wrote

Rail is complicated for different reasons. Technology isn’t the problem with rail. It’s the cost, getting the right of way, nimbyism, politics, environmental, and so on.

Have you ever seen a rail line built? They’ve been building a light rail line near my house since before I moved in 12 years ago and it’s not scheduled to finish for another 2 years. Funding and engineering went on for years before that.

Whatever new tech we need to get the trucks following each other will be done before this rail line. I think the technology is pretty close already. My wife’s 2016 Subaru has adaptive cruise control and lane assist which seems like enough to draft a semi.

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Psilocybeazurescens1 t1_iy7l01y wrote

Yes, that's why we have tons of already existing semi autonomous vehicles with many more under construction as opposed to rail. Nobody ever in history has ever build rail and no one in their right mind would think to buil new lines

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yogert909 t1_iy8aonq wrote

Woah there Tex. Calm down. It sounds like you’re thinking I’m saying something that I’m not. We can have both. And I really rather like traveling on light rail.

But it’s said there wil probably never be another heavy rail line built in the us because of the cost.

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