The NorthEast Corridor, for all its foibles, is already competive with airlines. Imagine if top speed was on the order of 250 mph over the bulk of the route!
The 'secret' to successful high-speed rail in the US is identifying those city pairs where it makes sense. I claim no inside information along that line. Once those pairs are connected, we can work on connecting those pairs together. Eventually I'd be able to travel from my home to my son's place (if I live that long) predominantly via rail.
Another key point with all of this is local infrastructure. It does no good to race from B to C if getting from A to B and C to D are ordeals.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Coincidentally, I was going to post this link and excerpts from this column in an engineering trade magazine anyway - this is just a good opportunity to do it now:
- Paul North.
http://www.rebuildingamericasinfrastructure.com/magazine-article-rai-november-2009-br_uuml;ken_culture_gap-7682.html
From ''Brücken Culture-Gap'' [''Bridges Culture Gap'']- By Dan McNichol
Landing in Berlin I hopped the subway known as the U-Bahn and explored the previously divided capital. . . . I headed north. Traveling at high speeds to Hamburg, the quick trip of “steel wheels on steel rails” covered 300 kilometers [about 187 miles - PDN] in 90 minutes. We on the train enjoyed a smooth, hands-free ride while out performing 500-horse-power Porsches driven along the nearby Autobahn.
Transit trains sliced through densely populated neighborhoods with a blurry swoosh, not a shaking and rattling like so many of our antique transit systems. Transportation centers of all modes were clean and buzzing with riders as well as shoppers (they act as community shopping centers and transit depots). However, the entire infrastructure was not freely accessible: tolls on public toilets were about a buck a pass.
Marc Springer, the ringleader, was a full-time professional and part-time professor of urban design. Marc is a fan of Americans, but he worries for us. . . . he moved on to a story of traveling to one of his favorite cities: “I love Chicago, but there is such a contrast between its world-class skyscrapers and that old train on elevated tracks — what do you call it?” I answered, “The El.” He laughed, “Yes, that piece of history! I couldn’t believe how long it took to get from the airport to the city. I mean it was considerable.” He continued, getting stimulated by the depth to which our infrastructure has sunk. “At first I did not know why everyone was wearing headphones,” saying he thought they were suffering a physical disorder of some sort. “Then, I realized, they were listening to loud music — trying to drown out the noise of the train on the old tracks!” Sadly, he was serious.
“Germany did not have the choice but to rebuild almost all its infrastructure after having it destroyed in WWII,” said Marc, adding cold comfort. The reverse point he was making is that America does have a choice whether or not it rebuilds. And, that it is to our disadvantage that we do not have to. But, I know I can speak for Marc when I say we must rebuild.
I'm going to take the contrarian view on this one...I just don't see the need for high speed passenger rail services. In Europe (where high speed rail is more developed) what are the user demographics? Does anyone's livelihood depend on high speed transportation (other than the people who work for the railway)? Don't get me wrong..I think high speed rail is nice but perhaps not a luxury we can afford nor is it something the planet really needs. Alot of what we have now is a waste and a drag on the environment...we don't need more of that.
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