alt Hacker News> The model works in Europe. Why double down on the thing that makes everything in the US suck
New York's subways were built by private companies. So were America's railroads.
> Where privatization has been done in Europe service has largely worsened
Counterpoint: Japan.
Replies
> New York's subways were built by private companies. So were America's railroads.
Didn't this cause a lot of problems, which is why they were eventually consolidated under a public authority?
I do find interesting and cool that private urban transport seems to work well in Japan and do wonder what's the system around this private ownership to have it work as well as it does.
>New York's subways were built by private companies
That's not even remotely true. Which I only found out two paragraphs into this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_New_York_City_S... because it was apparent to me that you leaving out the rest of the story (i.e. why the city took over the subway) was misleading.
I would like you to read up on the railroads, and WHY private companies built them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_land_grants_in_the_Un...
The government gave them over 700 000km2 of land as an incentive. In case that number means nothing to you: That is France. Or Texas.