Riding the rails - learning from other countries

The Swiss have one of the most highly developed public transportation networks, encompassing all forms of transport at the center of Europe. When I last visited, I admit I was impressed at the improvements to the already-extensive Swiss train network in particular. Transportation to nearly everywhere in Switzerland is available either by bus or train; their system runs efficiently and smoothly, and the equipment is well-maintained and comfortable.

President Obama has expressed the desire to see a better national train network in place in the U.S.; our current system shows its age and is very pricey for long-distance travelers when compared against flight costs or vs. comparable journeys in Europe or Asia.

A traveling exhibit titled The Challenge of Sustainable Transportation for the 21st Century: The Prospects for Switzerland and the U.S. will be presented in Chicago at the 2009 APTA Chicago Conference, June 14 -17, 2009, at the Hilton and Towers Hotel, 720 South Michigan Ave, Chicago.