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The high speed rail amendment in Florida was killed by overwhemling majority
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by daveklepper</i> <br /><br />Isn't the real answer the sort of partnership that Virginia is doing with CSX on the old RF&P line between Richmond and the Potomic bridge south of Washington? To improve what already exists and make it more useful? This was also sold as a highway congestion relief program, involving more trucks and fewer private autos, but it would seem the right model and the way to go. If I am not mistaken, Illinois is doing something similar with the UP Chicago - St. Louis. The track from Miami to Orland and then to Jacksonville exists, and from Aurbendale (south of Orlando) south to Tampa. These existing lines can be upgraded, then the line from Orlando to Jacksonville, and then the direct FEC Miami - Jackonville line. This would provide improved freight service and well and competitive passenger service. Initially, taking 20% of the traffic off the roads should be the goal, and speeds comparable to the Northeast Corridor would be sufficient to do that. Not very fast by European standards, but enough to do the job. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />For an effective HSR operation (even at NEC speeds) you can't have them share the track with freight. The pounding of the track structure by heavy haul freight trains would beat the track back to the level of todays track in no time. HSR must operate on is own track structure to make maintenance affordable. <br /> <br />The VRE/CSX enhancements are for commuter operations on the I-95 corridor from Fredericksburg VA to DC and potentially further South to Richmond. This will NOT be a high speed corridor. <br /> <br />The rights-of-way of freight railroads were laid out in the days of manpower, pick, shovel, mules and black powder being the earth movers that engineers had to work with and plan for, as a consequence current rights-of-way meander around river, creek and stream beds as being the 'water level' routes through the areas they traverse. These 'water level' routes inheiret most of the meandering curvature of the bodies of water that they follow and as such those alignments are not fit for 'high speed' operations. <br /> <br />To be effective and economic, HSR must be built with the best construction technology that is available today. There is no rail passenger operation in the world that is truly profitable by its own operation, they are all dependent upon the public dole as a public service to keep the bills paid and the trains operating. <br /> <br />HSR is a public service. HSR in Florida would be capacity enhancement to the Air and Highway structures that are already at practical capacity....additionally the existing freight lines in Florida are at or near their practical capacity (at least for the infrastructure that currently exists).
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