Dolly Parton's Dollywood Express Outperforms 27 States in Rail Ridership

Dollywood's Dollywood Express, a coal-fired steam train, boasts higher ridership than 27 US states! This surprising statistic prompts reflection on America's infrastructure priorities. Launched in 1986 with Dolly Parton's involvement, the train's engines hail from Alaska's White Pass & Yukon Route, repurposed from WWII. The Dollywood Express transports approximately 5,000 people daily, accounting for 92% of Tennessee's rail ridership (excluding Amtrak). The author uses this comparison to highlight discrepancies between US and Danish economies and their respective rail transit systems, questioning national infrastructure priorities.