Halfway through the trip, I wondered: does going still make sense? Shall I turn around? Repairs on the tracks at Ede-Wageningen prevented rail travel from the station last weekend. Bus 44 to Rhenen was delayed, causing me to miss my connecting train from Rhenen to Utrecht. And that train goes only once every hour, due to a shortage of personnel. The delay held me hostage at the station. I did not want to be there, but I couldn’t leave either. The journey to Delft took three and a half hours.
The entire trip would have taken less than half that by car. This is already the case for many destinations, even without delays. For example the ‘valleilijn’ to Amersfoort, by home town. There are no intercity trains on this trajectory, only local trains that stop everywhere. Three stops in Barneveld alone, where absolutely no one gets in or out. During my year on the board of Student Alliance Wageningen, I asked the responsible representative if there were no other options. Is a fast intercity train between Ede-Wageningen and Amersfoort an option? The answer was no. Particularly the high cost of noise reduction measures made this too costly. A pity, because this way, public transport can never compete with cars.
Like everyone else, I love travelling by car
The benefits of personal space and a constant temperature are unmatched—a car. Like everyone else, I love travelling by car. The extra tarmac planned for the campus makes sense. But I wonder: how much does this solve? In general, tarmac causes an increase in car traffic. If we stay addicted to the tarmac, how will we achieve a low-nitrogen and zero-CO2 country?
In China, I travelled in a train that zoomed through the landscape at 300 km/h. The slow car is a lesser alternative. Competitive local and international transportation: I hope to see it in my lifetime. Public transportation is more energy-efficient, saves room and has much lower CO2 emissions. I got through t delay last weekend without issues. Chilling on a bench and listening to a podcast. My body was still recovering from the previous evening, and I was happy not to be driving. The birds sang, and the sun shone. Not all that bad, a longer transit. Stockholm syndrome? Perhaps, but who cares? Still better than being addicted to tarmac.
Steven is doing a Master’s degree in Economics and Policy and enjoys hitting the squash court. He is always up for a game of squash and a good conversation. You can email him here.
