345mph!

[zardoz]

In the Trains Magazine news wire for Friday 7-31, there was an article about how a British Rail Eurostar train hit 208 mph in a test run. The article goes on to mention that the French TGV has reached 300 mph, and that Japanese Shinkansen has hit 345 mph in speed tests! 345!

And here we are in the great and mighty and rich USA getting excited that we may have trains going 110 mph soon. And on our "pride & joy" northeast corridor we hit an breathtaking 150mph, when the trains are not pulling down the catenary that was installed 100 years ago!!

I seriously doubt that Japan, France, or England have much more cash available for such projects than the USA. They just have the determination and foresight.

[zardoz]

In the Trains Magazine news wire for Friday 7-31, there was an article about how a British Rail Eurostar train hit 208 mph in a test run. The article goes on to mention that the French TGV has reached 300 mph, and that Japanese Shinkansen has hit 345 mph in speed tests! 345!

And here we are in the great and mighty and rich USA getting excited that we may have trains going 110 mph soon. And on our "pride & joy" northeast corridor we hit an breathtaking 150mph, when the trains are not pulling down the catenary that was installed 100 years ago!!

I seriously doubt that Japan, France, or England have much more cash available for such projects than the USA. They just have the determination and foresight.

[TH&B]

Keep in mind these are test runs only, maximum speeds are 186mph compared to our 150mph. The French TGV also travels on some older lines at lower speeds where accidents have happened such as level crossing colisions. The Japanese Shinkansen travels only on new track. Some Euporean trains will run 200mph regularly soon. Many high speed trains rarely reach top track speed on every run.

[TH&B]

Keep in mind these are test runs only, maximum speeds are 186mph compared to our 150mph. The French TGV also travels on some older lines at lower speeds where accidents have happened such as level crossing colisions. The Japanese Shinkansen travels only on new track. Some Euporean trains will run 200mph regularly soon. Many high speed trains rarely reach top track speed on every run.

[Modelcar]

....Right...We are not determined to put the effort forward to do such experiments. We're too busy running around all over the world being the total policemen thinking we can make all the wrongs stop. Sure would be nice if we could but we all know that's not possible. And in the meantime we're spending ourselves into oblivion. Our adminstration won't even step up to the plate to keep basic passenger rail transportation running....Just running.

[Modelcar]

....Right...We are not determined to put the effort forward to do such experiments. We're too busy running around all over the world being the total policemen thinking we can make all the wrongs stop. Sure would be nice if we could but we all know that's not possible. And in the meantime we're spending ourselves into oblivion. Our adminstration won't even step up to the plate to keep basic passenger rail transportation running....Just running.

[JoeKoh]

yeah wasn't that nice of us to rebuild the german french and japanese railways after wwII.just a thought.
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

yeah wasn't that nice of us to rebuild the german french and japanese railways after wwII.just a thought.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

[Anonymous]

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

There is no doubt people use the train more in Japan and in Europe than in the United States, however, you cannot compare conditions in Japan and Europe to those in the U>S. Cities in the U.S. are further apart compared to Europe so travel by high peed train there is very viable. I have traveled to Europe extensively over the past 10 years, and in the last 2 years with the advent of the European CommunityI more privately operated low cost airlines are coming on line, and running on international routes such as London - Paris, Madrid - Lisbon, etc.

Surely the train is competitive with air travel in Europe timewise on a portal-to-portal basis. A TGV runs non-stop between Paris and Marseille - a distance of nearly 500 miles - in 3 hours so it averages ~ 160 mph, and it cruises close to its top speed of 186 mph. Here in the United States we have the Acela Express, whose top speed is 150 mph, but it can only go that fast on 18 miles of track in Massachusetts. The same train takes 3 1/2 hours between Boston and New York, average speed 66 mph! You call that high-speed?? Don't blame Congress or the Department of Transportation for this! Blame Amtrak for not really knowing what high speed passenger service means.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

There is no doubt people use the train more in Japan and in Europe than in the United States, however, you cannot compare conditions in Japan and Europe to those in the U>S. Cities in the U.S. are further apart compared to Europe so travel by high peed train there is very viable. I have traveled to Europe extensively over the past 10 years, and in the last 2 years with the advent of the European CommunityI more privately operated low cost airlines are coming on line, and running on international routes such as London - Paris, Madrid - Lisbon, etc.

Surely the train is competitive with air travel in Europe timewise on a portal-to-portal basis. A TGV runs non-stop between Paris and Marseille - a distance of nearly 500 miles - in 3 hours so it averages ~ 160 mph, and it cruises close to its top speed of 186 mph. Here in the United States we have the Acela Express, whose top speed is 150 mph, but it can only go that fast on 18 miles of track in Massachusetts. The same train takes 3 1/2 hours between Boston and New York, average speed 66 mph! You call that high-speed?? Don't blame Congress or the Department of Transportation for this! Blame Amtrak for not really knowing what high speed passenger service means.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

One reason the European public uses the railroad mcuh more because the level of service is so much greater than here in the United States. There are more trains going to more destinations, running at faster speeds, with better integration between rail and air service - all making travel by train more (or the most) convenient way to get where you are going.

Here in America, we have a "skeletal" route structure, often with just one train a day between major destinations (or worse, no trains at all). Rail and air integration is poor, the trains - at best - move at a moderate pace and are too often late. So, it shouldn't be surprising that fewer people use them. If we want a better rail system it will require dedicated investment in infrastructure. There is, of course, a lot more to the issue than a simple "build it and they will come" approach, but you have to put the services in place before the passengers will show up. It just doesn't work the other way around.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sask_Tinplater

One thing to point out is that in Europe and Japan, unlike North America, the public uses the railways much more. Japan has the most heavily used passenger rail network in the world. In France and Germany there is the specific intention that high-speed rail will eventually eliminate domestic air travel entirely! In these countries the railways and airlines are working together. It's a shame the governments over here still put so much emphasis on air travel.

One reason the European public uses the railroad mcuh more because the level of service is so much greater than here in the United States. There are more trains going to more destinations, running at faster speeds, with better integration between rail and air service - all making travel by train more (or the most) convenient way to get where you are going.

Here in America, we have a "skeletal" route structure, often with just one train a day between major destinations (or worse, no trains at all). Rail and air integration is poor, the trains - at best - move at a moderate pace and are too often late. So, it shouldn't be surprising that fewer people use them. If we want a better rail system it will require dedicated investment in infrastructure. There is, of course, a lot more to the issue than a simple "build it and they will come" approach, but you have to put the services in place before the passengers will show up. It just doesn't work the other way around.

[sooblue]

I would like to see what the nations of the European union spends on self-defense. How much does each nation contribute to member defense and how much is spent in other parts of the world?
I don't believe they spend near as much as we do. In fact I think we spend more by way of NATO to defend their butts than they spend on themselves!

I'm not saying that every action Militarily that we take is right, but we mostly do it to preserve a people less fortunate than we. Even in places were we fail militarily we've gone there to help.

My hats off to US. The world can count on us and they do!
What I don't like is when we give and give and give and get nothing in return or worse, the people we just liberated spit in our faces and want us to get out.
The world calls, help us help us! Than we come and they say, now get out!

Now that I've vented.
Why don't we invite FRANCE, GERMANY, and JAPAN to come to this country and design and build a new passenger rail system (high speed) that fits our needs. They can pay for it all as a gift for all the billions and billions that WE have given them.
WHAT PRICE CAN THEY PUT ON THE LIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE.
If it weren’t for our efforts THEY wouldn't exist now.

Specially the FRENCH. They would be making baggets, stomping grapes and making cheese in some concentration camp if any of them had lived.[B)][B)]

Come to think of it, the "wall" wouldn't have come down if we hadn't spent billions on the cold war. What value do the Germans put on the restoration of their country only made possible by the pressure WE put on Russia?

Don't think Japan gets away!
After the war WE gave them their economy. WE taught them how to build cars and we gave them their electronic empire. We gave them what they tried to take through war! What price can you put on that??

I want to see something different then the Old World high-speed rail system.
I want speeds near the sound barrier.

The United States of America is [8D][8D][8D]

Sooblue

[sooblue]

I would like to see what the nations of the European union spends on self-defense. How much does each nation contribute to member defense and how much is spent in other parts of the world?
I don't believe they spend near as much as we do. In fact I think we spend more by way of NATO to defend their butts than they spend on themselves!

I'm not saying that every action Militarily that we take is right, but we mostly do it to preserve a people less fortunate than we. Even in places were we fail militarily we've gone there to help.

My hats off to US. The world can count on us and they do!
What I don't like is when we give and give and give and get nothing in return or worse, the people we just liberated spit in our faces and want us to get out.
The world calls, help us help us! Than we come and they say, now get out!

Now that I've vented.
Why don't we invite FRANCE, GERMANY, and JAPAN to come to this country and design and build a new passenger rail system (high speed) that fits our needs. They can pay for it all as a gift for all the billions and billions that WE have given them.
WHAT PRICE CAN THEY PUT ON THE LIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE.
If it weren’t for our efforts THEY wouldn't exist now.

Specially the FRENCH. They would be making baggets, stomping grapes and making cheese in some concentration camp if any of them had lived.[B)][B)]

Come to think of it, the "wall" wouldn't have come down if we hadn't spent billions on the cold war. What value do the Germans put on the restoration of their country only made possible by the pressure WE put on Russia?

Don't think Japan gets away!
After the war WE gave them their economy. WE taught them how to build cars and we gave them their electronic empire. We gave them what they tried to take through war! What price can you put on that??

I want to see something different then the Old World high-speed rail system.
I want speeds near the sound barrier.

The United States of America is [8D][8D][8D]

Sooblue

[Modelcar]

......."Don't blame Congress".....How is Amtrak to run "High Speed" equipment on ROW that won't support that kind of speed......And we all know if we're going to get high speed ROW it will have to be paid for by Congress agreeing to do so....

[Modelcar]

......."Don't blame Congress".....How is Amtrak to run "High Speed" equipment on ROW that won't support that kind of speed......And we all know if we're going to get high speed ROW it will have to be paid for by Congress agreeing to do so....

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RudyRockvilleMD
Surely the train is competitive with air travel in Europe timewise on a portal-to-portal basis. A TGV runs non-stop between Paris and Marseille - a distance of nearly 500 miles - in 3 hours so it averages ~ 160 mph, and it cruises close to its top speed of 186 mph. Here in the United States we have the Acela Express, whose top speed is 150 mph, but it can only go that fast on 18 miles of track in Massachusetts. The same train takes 3 1/2 hours between Boston and New York, average speed 66 mph! You call that high-speed?? Don't blame Congress or the Department of Transportation for this! Blame Amtrak for not really knowing what high speed passenger service means.

It is very hard to travel at high speed on lines that are rated for a max of 75-80 mph, the number of level crossings also limits speed.

The lines in Europe are DESIGNED for high speed, France had a totally new high speed line built post war to replace the one destroyed by the US Air Force. You want high speed, you upgrade the line, bank the curves, grade separate thelevel crossings, new signalling for higher speeds, heavier rails, new caternary, etc... All of which costs millions.

As well, over in Europe, airlines are not as subsidised as much as over here. If the US government gave passenger rail the same subsidies that the air lines got, it wouldn't need a budget from Congress, in fact, it could give congress back money, yet still afford to upgrade all its property.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RudyRockvilleMD
Surely the train is competitive with air travel in Europe timewise on a portal-to-portal basis. A TGV runs non-stop between Paris and Marseille - a distance of nearly 500 miles - in 3 hours so it averages ~ 160 mph, and it cruises close to its top speed of 186 mph. Here in the United States we have the Acela Express, whose top speed is 150 mph, but it can only go that fast on 18 miles of track in Massachusetts. The same train takes 3 1/2 hours between Boston and New York, average speed 66 mph! You call that high-speed?? Don't blame Congress or the Department of Transportation for this! Blame Amtrak for not really knowing what high speed passenger service means.

It is very hard to travel at high speed on lines that are rated for a max of 75-80 mph, the number of level crossings also limits speed.

The lines in Europe are DESIGNED for high speed, France had a totally new high speed line built post war to replace the one destroyed by the US Air Force. You want high speed, you upgrade the line, bank the curves, grade separate thelevel crossings, new signalling for higher speeds, heavier rails, new caternary, etc... All of which costs millions.

As well, over in Europe, airlines are not as subsidised as much as over here. If the US government gave passenger rail the same subsidies that the air lines got, it wouldn't need a budget from Congress, in fact, it could give congress back money, yet still afford to upgrade all its property.

[ironhorseman]

These other countries have the ca***o fund such projects because they borrow from the USA. That's why we're in such debt, these countries never pay us back and we don't force them to. (See Gordon Sinclair's "Americans")

Now, 345MPH seems like it boaders on Air Force and NASA test planes. What's even more incredible are the new maglev trains. They can reach 345MPH in seconds. Using only magnets for propulsion these are the bullet trains of the future. Of course accelerating to those speeds in seconds would be dangerous to the passengers. However, the only place right now where you can ride a maglev train is in an amusement park. This ride shoots the car forward then straight up which allows gravity to take over and it falls back to it's origional position. These trains levitate above magnets. It' looks like a monorail only more sleek.

The only fuel required is to generate the electricity to control the electromagnets.

[ironhorseman]

These other countries have the ca***o fund such projects because they borrow from the USA. That's why we're in such debt, these countries never pay us back and we don't force them to. (See Gordon Sinclair's "Americans")

Now, 345MPH seems like it boaders on Air Force and NASA test planes. What's even more incredible are the new maglev trains. They can reach 345MPH in seconds. Using only magnets for propulsion these are the bullet trains of the future. Of course accelerating to those speeds in seconds would be dangerous to the passengers. However, the only place right now where you can ride a maglev train is in an amusement park. This ride shoots the car forward then straight up which allows gravity to take over and it falls back to it's origional position. These trains levitate above magnets. It' looks like a monorail only more sleek.

The only fuel required is to generate the electricity to control the electromagnets.

[Modelcar]

.....I know of another one...Maglev, that is. In Tomorrow land at Disney in Florida. Has been there for years...Almost as long as the park has been there...1971. Rode on it many times. It is not fast, but the propulsion and support is Maglev. It also travels through Space Mountain.

[Modelcar]

.....I know of another one...Maglev, that is. In Tomorrow land at Disney in Florida. Has been there for years...Almost as long as the park has been there...1971. Rode on it many times. It is not fast, but the propulsion and support is Maglev. It also travels through Space Mountain.

[Anonymous]

I would consider a train traveling 150 mph in my book is high speed. The Europeans trains can go faster than 186 mph, it is just that they hold that speed because going faster costs more, in fuel efficiency and track maintanence. There comes a point of no returns...

For Amtrak south of New York City today that point is reached at 125-130 mph. To go faster would mean an upgrade of track and electric lines. The Acela trainsets were designed to go 150 mph, its the track that slows them down.

What slows Amtrak down in Connecticut is the old bridges, and old commuter tracks. Amtrak wishes to build new bridges, and upgrade the tracks.

But this is a problem for the rest of the United States. Amtrak's seems to only want to spend money on the northeast corridor. The reality is that they won't get those funds until they spend some elsewhere: Florida, Texas, California, and Illinois, for starters. Everyone wants high speed rail, Amtrak has only proposed such only in the northeast.

Amtrak today does not have the vision. That is precisely the problem. The sooner Amtrak propses high speed rail for all parts of the country, in a specific plan with specific dates, it won't get the funds to fix the northeast corridor....

[Anonymous]

I would consider a train traveling 150 mph in my book is high speed. The Europeans trains can go faster than 186 mph, it is just that they hold that speed because going faster costs more, in fuel efficiency and track maintanence. There comes a point of no returns...

For Amtrak south of New York City today that point is reached at 125-130 mph. To go faster would mean an upgrade of track and electric lines. The Acela trainsets were designed to go 150 mph, its the track that slows them down.

What slows Amtrak down in Connecticut is the old bridges, and old commuter tracks. Amtrak wishes to build new bridges, and upgrade the tracks.

But this is a problem for the rest of the United States. Amtrak's seems to only want to spend money on the northeast corridor. The reality is that they won't get those funds until they spend some elsewhere: Florida, Texas, California, and Illinois, for starters. Everyone wants high speed rail, Amtrak has only proposed such only in the northeast.

Amtrak today does not have the vision. That is precisely the problem. The sooner Amtrak propses high speed rail for all parts of the country, in a specific plan with specific dates, it won't get the funds to fix the northeast corridor....

[jsanchez]

I was estatic to do 15 mph on the freeway outside of Philadelphia yesterday, my time in the car gave me way to much opourtunity to think about how stupid we were to through away our trains in this country, ugh!! It could have been worse for me, the other major freeway was at a complete stand still. I think one day Philadelphia will come to a complete standstill due to three or four jacknifed semi truck accidents happening at the right places at the right time. A train traveling at 30 mph would be a great improvement over the current speed traveled on many urban freeways. If there was still a train between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Allentown, and Philadelphia, I have a feeling many folks would use it!!

[jsanchez]

I was estatic to do 15 mph on the freeway outside of Philadelphia yesterday, my time in the car gave me way to much opourtunity to think about how stupid we were to through away our trains in this country, ugh!! It could have been worse for me, the other major freeway was at a complete stand still. I think one day Philadelphia will come to a complete standstill due to three or four jacknifed semi truck accidents happening at the right places at the right time. A train traveling at 30 mph would be a great improvement over the current speed traveled on many urban freeways. If there was still a train between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Allentown, and Philadelphia, I have a feeling many folks would use it!!

[Anonymous]

Well I don't know about anyone else on here, but I really believe it's suicide to travel on any train at speeds of 150 or higher. I don't care who builds it or how good the track is, or great the train is, when that beast leaves the track for the great unknown, it's taking you with it, and I doubt seriously at those speeds that anyone is going to survive. Anyone who keeps tabs on stats will most likely agree, that MURPHIES LAW does eventually catch up to even high speed trains. You just really don't hear much about these accidents because these trains are the pride of these countries and to admit that anything did happen, would be a major blow to thier pride. Please, lets let sanity prevail and keep speeds down so that someone will still be around after a mishap.[^][^][^]

[Anonymous]

Well I don't know about anyone else on here, but I really believe it's suicide to travel on any train at speeds of 150 or higher. I don't care who builds it or how good the track is, or great the train is, when that beast leaves the track for the great unknown, it's taking you with it, and I doubt seriously at those speeds that anyone is going to survive. Anyone who keeps tabs on stats will most likely agree, that MURPHIES LAW does eventually catch up to even high speed trains. You just really don't hear much about these accidents because these trains are the pride of these countries and to admit that anything did happen, would be a major blow to thier pride. Please, lets let sanity prevail and keep speeds down so that someone will still be around after a mishap.[^][^][^]