Trains Work on a Much Larger Scale |
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Understanding the potential of Union Station requires thinking on a much larger scale than when thinking about airports. For example: A 737, the workhorse of domestic flights, holds 130 people. On the other hand, Amtrak's smallest trains hold 200 people (with no center seats.) During busy travel periods, Amtrak's sleeper trains can exceed the seating capacity of 747s.Many peak-hour Metra trains exceed 1100 seats. Many French TGV's also have 1100 seats (no center seats and two bars) twice the size of the new super-jumbo Airbus A380. They cover the distance of Chicago to Pittsburgh or Memphis in just three hours.Trains also come out ahead in space requirements. Union Station's 15-track south concourse is about the same width as just one and a half gates at a major airport. And since large buildings can be built adjacent (or above) to a railroad station, many people can walk or take a quick cab ride to their final destination making huge parking lots unnecessary. The result is much more intense economic activity at a lower cost. |
This TGV has 1100 seats - equivalent to two Airbus A380 super-jumbos - and travels the distance of Chicago to Memphis in just three hours. | |||||||
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