Topic: Commuter Train

A packed commuter train in Boston traveled for five miles without an operator after the driver stepped out to check a signal. The incident is under investigation by local police, and the report was delivered by ABC's Lindsey Janis.

A train driver from Sydney, Australia, and a commuter from Zurich, Switzerland, share their stories. The Swiss donor describes quitting a job to avoid a four-hour commute, only to be involved in a traffic accident with a driver from Iraq.

The hosts analyze the practical differences between rail usage in Japan or Europe versus the United States, noting that American geography and car culture make high-speed rail less viable. They argue that while bullet trains serve high-density commuter needs in Tokyo or tourist routes in France, the U.S. model relies on a robust roadway system. The push for rail is described as a "money grab" by think tanks and pressure groups.