• ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
    01·
    20 days ago

    Trains don’t rule that much when they lose power in a 40 degree heat which is happening all over Europe right now.

    • Jiral@lemmy.world
      0·
      20 days ago

      Trains don’t have a higher failure rate than car infrastructure. Most of the rail infrastructure works just fine, at 40C. Occasionally something can get damaged. Aviation is much more fragile regarding weather but interestingly doesn’t get all that heat from transit haters and cars are way more dangerous and on top of that can overheat at extreme temperatures.

      • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
        0·
        20 days ago

        Yes, most of it works fine but when it doesn’t:

        • the AC stops working, the windows don’t open and it gets real hot real fast
        • unless it’s some extreme situation they will not let you leave the train
        • you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no infrastructure in sight
        • it’s really hard to get you to alternative transport
        • fixing the issue can take hours

        With a car:

        • you can get outside
        • you will have to wait 30-60 minutes to get towed

        You see multiple news every day about trains in Spain,Poland or Germany with broken AC or just completely failing between stations.

        • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          19 days ago

          They usually advise you not to get out of your car for the exact reason they advise you not to get off the train.

          I’m not sure what’s exclusive to trains about breaking down in the middle of nowhere. It’s not exactly trivial to get a replacement car either, nor is repair somehow instant.

          I get what you’re saying, but it’s way less one sided than you’re trying to convey. My car once broke down on the freeway in a city. I had to wait more than an hour for a tow and then walk home, which took two hours. Had to get random coworkers or friends to take me to work while my car was repaired over the next two weeks.

          Oh, and traffic jams are routine for cars.

          Nothing is gained by pretending there’s no downsides to any mode of transportation. They all have them. In aggregate though, most people would be better off if we had more available than just “car”.

          • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
            0·
            19 days ago

            I’m not comparing the inconvenience of both situation from the breakdown to the cost of repair.

            I’m talking specifically about getting stuck in train on a hot day. Is that really so difficult to understand?

            https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/22/rail-passengers-travel-heatwave-train-services-chiltern

            Have you ever seen red heat alert advisory telling people to drive only if necessary and take precautions? I haven’t. Why do you think they issue those for trains but not cars?

            • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
              01·
              18 days ago

              https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/weather-air-con-postpone-car-journeys-warning

              It adds: “Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.”

              This has been echoed by the RAC, which explained that red extreme heat warnings are incredibly rare, and called on Britons to take them seriously.

              Data from the organisation states that breakdown volumes are expected to be around 20 per cent higher today than what’s normal for a Monday in late June.

              I literally just searched for it and trivially found them.

              They’re specifically saying vehicles without air conditioning, while also discussing worsening road conditions, increased risk of breakdown, and a general need to limit travel.

              They issue the warnings for trains and not cars because train rails expand in the heat, meaning service cancellation is more likely and deferring optional travel reduces stress on the system.
              Any time there is stress on a transit system they advise people to skip using it if necessary.

              Your position is not hard to understand. It’s just one-sided because you’re only considering the downsides of one method, and not considering what the same situation looks like for the other.