public transit trains tow commuter cars ?

[Widdekind]

Americans have strong preferences for driving personal vehicles; yet public transit seems much more efficient, cleaner & greener. Perhaps commuter trains could tow cars, e.g. on (adapted) rolling stock with those car carrier racks, like those towed by trucks on roads? If commuter rail stations could be adapted, to accommodate car as well as foot traffic, then perhaps many persons could bypass rush-hour traffic jams into / out-of cities; whilst still accommodating their (apparent) personal preferences for driving around town. Commuter trains would roll into stations; foot traffic would board the passenger cars in front; cars would drive onto the car carriers in back; the whole train would then depart the station, for the next, and so on. The car carriers would be a little like "land ferries", carrying cars like (say) Seattle ferries, except on rails.

 

[flacaltenn]

Americans have strong preferences for driving personal vehicles; yet public transit seems much more efficient, cleaner & greener. Perhaps commuter trains could tow cars, e.g. on (adapted) rolling stock with those car carrier racks, like those towed by trucks on roads? If commuter rail stations could be adapted, to accommodate car as well as foot traffic, then perhaps many persons could bypass rush-hour traffic jams into / out-of cities; whilst still accommodating their (apparent) personal preferences for driving around town. Commuter trains would roll into stations; foot traffic would board the passenger cars in front; cars would drive onto the car carriers in back; the whole train would then depart the station, for the next, and so on. The car carriers would be a little like "land ferries", carrying cars like (say) Seattle ferries, except on rails.

They actually ran "car trains" in the 60's and 70's.. Used to be a station in Sanford Fla where the family could get to Disney with their own personal vehicles..

Don''t know why this didn't survive, but I suspect it was poor scheduling of service and the cost..

 

[sparty]

Americans have strong preferences for driving personal vehicles; yet public transit seems much more efficient, cleaner & greener. Perhaps commuter trains could tow cars, e.g. on (adapted) rolling stock with those car carrier racks, like those towed by trucks on roads? If commuter rail stations could be adapted, to accommodate car as well as foot traffic, then perhaps many persons could bypass rush-hour traffic jams into / out-of cities; whilst still accommodating their (apparent) personal preferences for driving around town. Commuter trains would roll into stations; foot traffic would board the passenger cars in front; cars would drive onto the car carriers in back; the whole train would then depart the station, for the next, and so on. The car carriers would be a little like "land ferries", carrying cars like (say) Seattle ferries, except on rails.

Are you European?