How are airplanes so cheap ? Airplane fuel is expensive, it takes a larger crew to operate and the planes are more expensive too. Who foots the bill for operating expensive airports ?
Are trains mor expensive purely because regulation costs and operating expenses are passed down in entirety to the customer ?
No more so than diesel for a locomotive. The formulation is pretty similar. Then, consider that the energy requirements for trains and planes aren't radically different (for long-distance travel). Airplanes fly though the thin air of the stratosphere, while trains try to bore a hole through the thick air near the ground.
> it takes a larger crew to operate
Not really. The person-hours of labor (for the on-board crew) required to operate a segment between two city pairs is usually less for a plane because it spends less time in transit.
In both cases, the crew is unionized and commands high pay and benefits.
In both cases, a centralized dispatcher is required, usually certified.
In both cases, some staff are needed to run the stations and on/off-load baggage and cargo. In both cases, one group of such staff can be "rotated" through the many arrivals/departures that happen throughout the day.
The Venture set carries about 250 pax, while the 737 carries about 180. But the 737 can complete more trips in a given amount of time compared to a train.
> Who foots the bill for operating expensive airports ?
Generally the people who use it, via ticket prices. O'hare airport is a major profit center for the city of Chicago (check out the city's border--that little nub on the west side is the airport).
> Are trains mor[e] expensive purely because regulation costs and operating expenses are passed down in entirety to the customer ?
It's mostly a combination of:
1. Higher labor costs (because a train takes longer, and the crew requirements are similar).
2. Needing to build and maintain a continuous right of way for hundreds of miles.
3. Less efficient use of capital because the same amount of equipment can make fewer trips in a given amount of time.
Are trains mor expensive purely because regulation costs and operating expenses are passed down in entirety to the customer ?