At last the US wakes up to high speed rail

[cancel2 2022]

Apr 16, 2009 03:52 PM

High-speed rail getting on track in the U.S. (Source)







President Obama outlined his vision today for high-speed rail service in the U.S, identifying 10 corridors in heavily populated regions around the country – from the Pacific north-west to the gulf states – for the laying of hundreds of miles of new tracks.

The stimulus bill that passed in February set aside $8 billion for the initiative. The Federal Railroad Administration will begin awarding grants late this summer after a competitive bidding process amongst rail companies.

Proponents of high-speed rail say the system will ease traffic congestion by lessening vehicular and plane travel, cut pollution by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and also create jobs in a down economy. “My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America,” President Obama said today. “High-speed rail is long overdue.”

Indeed, the U.S. is well behind other nations when it comes to speedy railways. Bullet trains zip across Japan, Korea, Germany, France, Italy and Spain at speeds up to 217 miles (350 kilometers) per hour, while the only high-speed rail corridor in the U.S. – Amtrak’s Acela line that runs from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Mass. – pokes along at an average of 80 miles (130 kilometers) per hour, the Economist reports.

In addition to the $8 billion available now, Obama intends to provide $1 billion annually for the next five years to help see the rail projects to completion. However, each individual project could end up costing in excess of even the full $8 billion on hand, according to the Economist – California, for example, has plans to connect its major cities with 200 mile (320 kilometer) per hour railways to the tune of $40 billion.

It remains to be seen if the speedy new railcars will impress like those described on the cover page of the very first issue of Scientific American, published in August of 1845: “The manufacturers have recently introduced a variety of excellent improvements in the construction of trucks, springs, and connections, which are calculated to avoid atmospheric resistance, secure safety and convenience, and contribute ease and comfort to passengers, while flying at the rate of 30 or 40 miles per hour.”

The best train cars of that era did not lack in style, either, at least in the eyes of the writer: “Let any person contrast the awkward and uncouth cars of ’35 with the superbly splendid long cars now running on several of the eastern roads, and he will find it difficult to convey to a third party, a correct idea of the vast extent of improvement.”

[uscitizen]

When I lived in FL we passed a ballot measure for a high speed rail system. John Bush killed it even though the people voted it in.

[evince]

Sweetness.

This is such a great and logcal idea.

I wonder who will say its a waste of money?

[uscitizen]

Sweetness.

This is such a great and logcal idea.

I wonder who will say its a waste of money?

The party of NO.
That is who said it was in FL.
And this is a historical fact.

[evince]

But its so hard to figure out how corportions will make big money off this one, can you blame their confusion?

[Minister of Truth]

If its a waste of money, then obviously, corporations won't make any money on the matter...

[Epicurus]

But its so hard to figure out how corportions will make big money off this one, can you blame their confusion?

Desh I really pity you for your stupidity.

Who do you think will be building them?

The old line that corporations hate liberals could not be more untrue. Corporations love liberals. They're the ones who open up the public treasury to corporate exploitation via wasteful projects.

[DamnYankee]

Sweetness.

This is such a great and logcal idea.

I wonder who will say its a waste of money?

I'd like to see a cost-benefit and marketing analysis of it before I make a decision either way.

[DamnYankee]

President Obama outlined his vision today for high-speed rail service in the U.S, identifying 10 corridors in heavily populated regions around the country – from the Pacific north-west to the gulf states – for the laying of hundreds of miles of new tracks.

The stimulus bill that passed in February set aside $8 billion for the initiative. ...

Is this enough to fund the program?

[Epicurus]

Nope. It doesn't provide enough to finish building them either.

California has estimated that theirs alone will cost $40 billion by the time it's finished.

This is irresponsible, shady budgeting.

[TuTu Monroe]

This is why it's imperative to re-write the Obama massive budget. Obama is a big dreamer and can't face reality.

Nope. It doesn't provide enough to finish building them either.

California has estimated that theirs alone will cost $40 billion by the time it's finished.

This is irresponsible, shady budgeting.

[Norman Paperman]

Great idea this, because we all know what a money maker Amtrak has been over the years.

Waste of money I say. Money that could be better spent on our schools, our roads, our debt, hell, any number of things that would give us a better return.

[FUCK THE POLICE]

The US doesn't have a population density large enough to justify European style high speed rail networks to everywhere. We are one of the lowest population density countries on the planet.

But I don't think this plan is entirely unreasonable.

[Epicurus]

Chicago is the network hub?! Corruption!!!

[cancel2 2022]

If you look at the map of the proposed lines they plan to connect up areas of high density like LA to San Francisco, Seattle to Vancouver and the North East to Florida.

The US doesn't have a population density large enough to justify European style high speed rail networks to everywhere. We are one of the lowest population density countries on the planet.

But I don't think this plan is entirely unreasonable.