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One third of the population of Switzerland lives within 5 kilometers of the main train line crossing the country
(reddthat.com)
Source (yes sorry it's LinkedIn, if you any another one, I'll update): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/prof-stefan-michel_notsweden-train-activity-7210174690827370496-8iJz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Yeah and those cities exist in that configuration because they're where the farm land is they grew out of. There are mountains running along the northern and southern borders of the country. Most people live in the valley between.
It's like the same as wondering why much of Chicago's train system runs north/south. There's a big ass lake to the east stopping expansion that direction.