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High-speed rail, red herring, and my lament
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In Europe they are slowly connecting their HSR lines into a larger system, a system similar in size to an area east of the Mississippi River in America..... Yes, transcontinental HSR lines are not sustainable....in distance and in population density..... <br /> <br />But the distances and population centers are sustainable east of the Mississippi River.... An area around Chicago of some 100 miles in radius approaches 10 million potential riders....similar in size to the New York City Metropolitan area.... and definitely larger than Washington DC's, Philadelphia's, or Boston's..... A high speed rail line from Chicago to New York City alongside I-80, I-76, and I-95 (Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia) would be approximately 750 miles in length.... A high speed train averaging 150 mph, capable of doing up to 200 mph, could accompli***his overnight train trip today in an astonishing four and a half hours..... While not jet blasters by any means, a HSR train along this corridor would attract riders...... One trainset could leave New York City around 8 am EST, arrive in Chicago at 11:30 am CST, leave Chicago at 12:00 noon CST and arrive in New York City at 5:30 pm EST.... And yes, this one trainset could do an evening run from New York City at 6:00 pm EST and arrive in Chicago at 9:30 CST..... Amtrak today operates two trainsets, one eastbound and one westbound each night.... Use a second trainset in the reverse above, and we'll end up with three trains eastbound and westbound each day.....without any travel at night..... Small cities in America such as San Angelo, Texas don't have this daily airline frequency.... Add the two trainsets today of the Capitol Limited, and the two trainsets of the Three Rivers, and we could easily triple the frequency of the above HSR line between Chicago and New York City..... which was two and a half times better frequency than what Amtrak operates the Lake Shore Limited today..... <br /> <br />How about a HSR train every hour or so! Or we could cut two thirds of the personnel and keep the two and a half times better frequency of the HSR line with only two trainsets...... SAVINGS! POSSIBLY AN OPERATIONAL PROFIT! DO WE HAVE TOO MANY NEC ACELA TRAINS, MOVE SOME OVER TO THE CHICAGO LINE! SAVE EVEN MORE SALARY! <br /> <br />One thing is for certain, Amtrak can and would attract more riders on this route without the night trains..... Maybe people don't ride trains because they have a hard time sleeping in coach...... Amtrak doesn't operate any day trains on this route do they? <br /> <br />While it is a longer distance to Miami from New York City, and the time travel could end up around five or even six hours, the same frequencies can be had on a HSR line along the east coast..... There are over 10 million people living in Central and South Florida.... Combine the trainsets of the Silver Meteor, the Silver Star, and the Palmetto....one can get the picture...... <br /> <br />Its about 500 miles from LA to Oakland, and a bit more to Sacramento..... There are 20 million people living in Southern California and up to 10 million people living in the Bay Area and Sacramento areas... <br /> <br />Its time to start building..... Talk doesn't walk the walk..... <br /> <br />
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