The John Batchelor Show / #PacificWatch: The Bullet Train doglegs that defeated the French @JCBliss #FriendsofHistoryDebatingSociety (audioboom.com)
A less wacky link:
https://dnyuz.com/2022/10/09/how-californias-bullet-train-went-off-the-rails/
Story on Business Insider:
https://www.businessinsider.com/french-california-high-speed-rail-north-africa-biden-trump-2022-10
This is kinda old news; the French gave up circa 2011 (and I think it was discussed here at that time). The whole Morocco counterexample was planned and built out in the interim, which is actually a significant part of the story.
I actually think some of the doglegging made sense... for getting actual use from whatever routes the boondoggle finally winds up operating. I lost whatever interest in it I could muster up when they decided to make the entry into San Francisco with all those grade crossings and restrictions. That will never be meaningful HSR that even remotely justifies what California has spent and in some cases tried to weasel.
Honesty, for a pro-rail comment forum, this site has the most anti-passenger train, anti-high speed rail commentors.
What California is getting is not 'high speed rail' in any sense that someone who loves or appreciates HSR wants much to do with.
It may be more interesting to railfans at the point actual trains start to be built and tested. But on single track atop that ridiculously overpriced infrastructure, I suspect it will be more painful than enjoyable to watch.
Texas Central, on the other hand, will be a joy when it runs.
mdwHonesty, for a pro-rail comment forum, this site has the most anti-passenger train, anti-high speed rail commentors.
OvermodI lost whatever interest in it I could muster up when they decided to make the entry into San Francisco with all those grade crossings and restrictions. That will never be meaningful HSR that even remotely justifies what California has spent and in some cases tried to weasel.
Yes, this was supposed to be a joint public - private project as well. I have say I am even more disappointed at the neglect to the LA-San Diego line as well as other areas they should have been working on but have not because they are focused on this boon doggle. Probably be 50 years or more to recover from this mess and all the ancillary impacts.
OvermodTexas Central, on the other hand, will be a joy when it runs.
Brightline will take over that route and expressed a desire in using it as an expansion project prior to Larry, Curly and Moe of Texas Central who have now flown the coup to other companies as the secret is out they have no real financing for the project.
I trully believe after CA-LV is up and running and the Florida system is built out. You will see Brightline take over the Texas Central project if it is still available as a corridor.
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