While the United States has the largest overall rail network, China boasts the largest highspeed rail network. In 2021 the country operated nearly 40,500 kilometers of highspeed rail lines.
1. Switzerland. Tucked inside the small but incredibly beautiful country of Switzerland is one of the most efficient and scenic rail networks in the world.
Gare du Nord in Paris, France, handles approximately 214.2 million passengers each year. It is the busiest station in Europe and in the world outside of Japan.
New York, New York? Of course, we can't talk about public transportation in America without mentioning New York City's Metro, the nation's largest system. On an average weekday, the subway supports 5.5 million riders with almost 1.7 billion riders each year.
THE VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESSProbably the most famous train in the world, and one of the best train journeys in Europe, the legendary Orient Express has now been reimagined by Belmond to emulate the Golden Age of travel.
American railways were also built on a wider gauge (the distance between the rails), which allows for larger and heavier trains. As a result, American freight railways are much more efficient than their European counterparts, carrying almost three times as much cargo per mile of track.
It probably comes as no surprise that in a global 2019 survey of railroad efficiency, the top two places went to Japan and Hong Kong, with scores of 6.8 and 6.5 (out of seven) respectively.
Trenitalia's Paris to Milan route was first introduced in December 2021, serviced by Hitachi Rail's ETR1000. This super high speed train travels at 300km/h - with the ability to go400km/h if not limited by track regulations - making it the fastest train in Europe.
The numbers for high-speed rail can vary anywhere from 20 to 80 million per mile. The big reason why America is behind on high-speed rail is primarily money. We don't commit the dollars needed to build these systems, it's really as simple as that. And it's largely a political issue.
Stourbridge Town line, EnglandFar down in the deep green forests of the West Midlands in England lies what claims to be the shortest railway branch line in Europe. The Stourbridge Town line measures a titchy 0.8 miles long with a mere two stops, travelling from Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction.