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re: Would a high-speed rail system work in the US?
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:43 am to Oilfieldbiology
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:43 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
And how would the train be any faster?
No half hour long boarding process. Less delays. Less affected by weather.
1
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:46 am to NolaTiger52
quote:
could have a 100 mile commute every morning that would take no time. I
Commuter trains and high speed distance trains are completely different things. People traveling from Chicago to L.A. won't be on the same train as commuters.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:49 am to NolaTiger52
I think it would be a great thing. They are going to throw money at all kinds of useless shite after this Pandemic, so I would love to see them throw money at this so we at least have a great benefit after this is over. I used the train system in Spain and it was the best travel mode I have ever experienced.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:51 am to NolaTiger52
No. Far too expensive. Flights aren't expensive and (typically) much quicker.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:52 am to azcatiger
Why do you folks keep thinking the European model of rail systems can work in this country?
It might....and I say might because California is trying it's best to show how it can't...work in the densely populated corridors on the east and west coast.
The rest of the country? Not a snowball's chance in hell. This country is entirely too spread out. Population density and short distances between those densely populated regions is why Europe works, and even then it requires heavy taxpayer subsidization.
It might....and I say might because California is trying it's best to show how it can't...work in the densely populated corridors on the east and west coast.
The rest of the country? Not a snowball's chance in hell. This country is entirely too spread out. Population density and short distances between those densely populated regions is why Europe works, and even then it requires heavy taxpayer subsidization.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 8:53 am to BottomlandBrew
quote:
No half hour long boarding process.
You don't think this would change as more people utilized a rail system? There is already a huge push to get the TSA involved (with all the same screening fun) for the sparsely used Amtrak system.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:11 am to NolaTiger52
Regionally yes it could. But you'd have to develop a whole public infrastructure to support travel from the train stations.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:16 am to NolaTiger52
State politicians would kill this project with lightening speed as they would require that Eunice, Bunkie,& Grand Isle all have stops.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:17 am to azcatiger
Maybe on the crowded Northeast corridor. Nationally? No.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:22 am to NolaTiger52
Yes, it would work. But the unpleasant realities:
1) Ungodly expensive
2) It would be run more poorly than European counterparts
3) Our version would probably end up as cumbersome as air travel once lawmakers finished with it
4) Perhaps most importantly, the people who ride it would make it less enjoyable than European counterparts - It would never be akin to your great experience on TGV or DB or whatever.
1) Ungodly expensive
2) It would be run more poorly than European counterparts
3) Our version would probably end up as cumbersome as air travel once lawmakers finished with it
4) Perhaps most importantly, the people who ride it would make it less enjoyable than European counterparts - It would never be akin to your great experience on TGV or DB or whatever.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:25 am to Sasquatch Smash
quote:
Amtrak uses the freight lines' rails. The freight trains have right of way over the Amtrak trains, so if there are freight trains coming Amtrak stays in the side rail until they're done passing.
Right. Just pointing out that nothing on the map was really new other than the speed of transit. The first thing they could do would be eliminating the majority of the stops Amtrak makes.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:25 am to Pettifogger
quote:
Yes, it would work.
In the Boston-NYC-DC corridor? Possibly, but probably not because of what you listed after this.
The rest of the country? No. Not even remotely possible. The density just isn't there, and the distances far, far to great.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:28 am to Centinel
quote:
The rest of the country? No. Not even remotely possible. The density just isn't there, and the distances far, far to great.
I mean, define "work"
I think it would absolutely gain usage on a regional/seaboard basis. Whether or not it would do so quickly and sufficiently to justify the cost is a different question.
But in a vacuum, I think high speed rail would be adopted in the the US. Honestly I think it would work even despite the realities of regulation and undesirables, but those things would probably slow adoption and make the costs harder to justify.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:39 am to Centinel
quote:
You don't think this would change as more people utilized a rail system?
Have you ever utilized a European or Japanese rail system? The train pulls in, opens doors for a couple minutes, closes doors, moves on.
No boarding BS for Pre-board, Business select customers, Group 1, Group Poors, etc.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:40 am to Pettifogger
Unfortunately, while I do enjoy riding a train or local commuter rail, they are terrible money pits.
I feel people really underestimate the cost of building and maintenance. California's (I know) costs just keep going up.
I'm also coming around to the idea that with the new technologies on the horizon, rail lines are backwards thinking and this would be the worst time to build one.
I feel people really underestimate the cost of building and maintenance. California's (I know) costs just keep going up.
I'm also coming around to the idea that with the new technologies on the horizon, rail lines are backwards thinking and this would be the worst time to build one.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:43 am to BottomlandBrew
quote:
Have you ever utilized a European or Japanese rail system?
Yes. I lived in Germany for four years.
quote:
No boarding BS for Pre-board, Business select customers, Group 1, Group Poors, etc.
I'm not taking about this. I'm talking about the TSA security theater that will most certainly be involved, which is what I specifically said in my previous post.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:45 am to Centinel
You quoted my boarding comment. Boarding =/= TSA security.
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:45 am to NolaTiger52
Xpress West from Las Vegas to Victorville, CA is currently in the preliminary design phase.
And those that say it’s quicker to drive have never driven from Las Vegas to California.
XpressWest
And those that say it’s quicker to drive have never driven from Las Vegas to California.
XpressWest
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:49 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
I'm also coming around to the idea that with the new technologies on the horizon, rail lines are backwards thinking and this would be the worst time to build one.
This could be true.
But on the other side, ride share adoption has lessened the importance of first mile public transportation solutions that are/were a huge hindrance to rail use in the United States, particularly in sprawl cities you'd need to get it off the ground (Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, etc.).
Posted on 5/5/20 at 9:49 am to Centinel
I believe high speed rail is ideal for connecting major metros that are close enough to make air travel impractical.
Works great in Europe or Japan, but just not ideal in the US outside of a few routes.
Take Los Angeles for example. 380 miles to San Francisco, 280 to Las Vegas and about 100 to San Diego. High speed rail from LA to SD would be great, but flights to SF and Vegas are about 50 minutes gate to gate. Not to mention there are 5 major airports serving the LA metro area.
Also, rail maintenance costs money. The skies require no maintenance.
Works great in Europe or Japan, but just not ideal in the US outside of a few routes.
Take Los Angeles for example. 380 miles to San Francisco, 280 to Las Vegas and about 100 to San Diego. High speed rail from LA to SD would be great, but flights to SF and Vegas are about 50 minutes gate to gate. Not to mention there are 5 major airports serving the LA metro area.
Also, rail maintenance costs money. The skies require no maintenance.
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