Rail needs a lot of technology, and then it will be amazing. I don't think it's thsy far off.
Compared to trucking? Oh my god it's not even close. 2017 U.S. stats:[1][2]
Large truck fatalities: 4,102
U.S. rail fatalities: 8
Not sure how it pencils out per mile but it is ridiculously inaccurate to characterize trains as more dangerous than the alternatives.
[1] https://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/large-trucks/fatalityfact...
[2] https://www.bts.gov/content/train-fatalities-injuries-and-ac...
How so?
You've obviously never lived next to a railroad.
Trains can't stop. I mean, they can eventually stop, but when it comes down to it, the train is not stopping.
Trains are relatively clean compared to trucks, but they still burn crap and spew ash and smoke.
Trains are loud. That's... I really can't say it any other way. Trains. Are. Loud.
Electric trains exist, so it's pretty obvious that your rail exposure isn't as universal as you think it is.
For example, all the NS trains in the Netherlands are electric and powered sustainably.
https://www.ns.nl/en/about-ns/sustainability/energy/sustaina...
Not universally, so it's pretty obvious your rail experience isn't as universal as you think it is.
Rail needs a lot of technology, and then it will be amazing. I don't think it's thsy far off.