In some circles, there is a belief that you have to have large populations to support high quality rail services. Switzerland shows that might not be the case. The country boasts a highly productive and frequent intercity and local passenger rail network that is actually quite dense. The system is incredibly punctual even for connections, which can usually be made in fewer than 10 minutes. Schedules are very tight with trains often running only on a shared single track. Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes shows how exceptional this system is in nation full of small towns and villages and very few big cities.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.