The U.S. isn't known for passenger trains — but not for lack of railroad tracks

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom

Published December 16, 2025 at 11:06 AM CST

The U.S. has the most railroad tracks of any country. And yet we’re not known for our passenger trains. Freight trains, on the other hand, are still widely used. So why can’t passenger trains be more of a thing?

Stephan Bisaha and Wailin Wong from Planet Money‘s Indicator dig into America’s high-quality rail system and the trouble with passenger trains

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Related Content

WSIU – Powered by You

As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.