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Post by peterd on Dec 24, 2011 6:05:56 GMT -8
High-Speed Rail Project in California Under Scrutiny The Obama administration's plans for a bullet train could be headed off the tracks in California, the one state where its high-speed rail initiative is still alive. Since the project was first unveiled in 2008, officials tripled its projected cost, delayed its start of service 13 years, downsized ridership projections and increased ticket prices. Almost two-thirds of Californians now say they'd vote against issuing bonds to pay for a project they narrowly approved just three years ago. "It is not viable. It is not the best use of tax dollars, especially when you're borrowing the money to do it," said California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who originally supported the project as a member of the state legislature. Read more: www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/23/high-speed-rail-project-in-california-under-scrutiny/?test=latestnews#ixzz1hT6IEdeW____________________________________________________ This is a one project I like and would support. However, at the same time I do not want our government to run High speed Rail. This should be in the hands of private sector. I took ride on the high speed rail in Germany and loved that. You could not imagine the comfort and space. Economically, I see High Speed Rail a huge competion against the airlines specially if the price is right. It is something to consider. |
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Post by chillyd on Dec 24, 2011 8:04:04 GMT -8
The DBb was state run when I was there . . . did fairly well as a plain vanilla service. Glad to see it privatized after the reunification.
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Post by peterd on Dec 24, 2011 8:24:16 GMT -8
When I was replying, article moved. I guess lets start all over again. German government still supports German rail system.
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Post by chillyd on Dec 25, 2011 11:53:33 GMT -8
But, does it still run is like the DBb did? Back to Kalifornia . . . what ever happened to all those hydrogen fuel stations they promised?  |
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Post by 101ABN on Dec 25, 2011 12:04:21 GMT -8
Because Sacramento politicians are so much more full of shit than the politicians of most other states, they produce 99.44% more methane than hydrogen.
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Post by peterd on Dec 25, 2011 15:30:16 GMT -8
This is just for a consideration. High speed rail is a great mode of transportation. I rode the rail couple in Germany years ago and it was awesome. You cannot imagine comfort. You very good leg room, your are not packed like a sardine and price was resonable. I believe that High speed rail could be good competion against the airline. High speed rail should not be run by our government, it should be in hands of private sector. Beside transporting people, trains should be equipped with railcars for transport of vehicles. Would it be nice to get to your destination and have your car there.
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Post by Sailor on Dec 26, 2011 11:57:02 GMT -8
"High speed rail should not be run by our government, it should be in hands of private sector."I agree, the problem is the pols don't. I also think it should be done with no more subsidy than the airlines get per passenger/mile and not with AmTrak's life support. If it were worth doing and could be done in a way that's self supporting private industry would do it. "Beside transporting people, trains should be equipped with railcars for transport of vehicles."Autotrain? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_TrainWhile this probably wouldn't pay in the Northeast Corridor or short hauls, perhaps it would be economically feasible for long haul outside of the Lorton Virginia - Sanford Florida run, trips longer than overnight. Mrs Sailor and I can and have driven from Virginia Beach to Orlando to visit her family in just over 12 hours. Autotrain wouldn't save us anything, but on longer trips, i.e. DC to Chicago or Detroit or perhaps from St.Louis east to DC or west to Vegas or somewhere in California an Autotrain type service might be attractive.
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Post by chillyd on Dec 27, 2011 18:54:18 GMT -8
I once thought of a railroad trip to Dallas, Texas for my young ones . . . thought it would be a neat trip. After calling up AMTRAK, those plans were quickly cancelled. Seems we'd have to travel Atlanta to D.C. to Chicago to New Orleans to Dallas and take 72 hours to get there.  IMHO, rail is best for freight. |
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Post by peterd on Dec 30, 2011 9:24:44 GMT -8
"High speed rail should not be run by our government, it should be in hands of private sector."I agree, the problem is the pols don't. I also think it should be done with no more subsidy than the airlines get per passenger/mile and not with AmTrak's life support. If it were worth doing and could be done in a way that's self supporting private industry would do it. "Beside transporting people, trains should be equipped with railcars for transport of vehicles."Autotrain? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_TrainWhile this probably wouldn't pay in the Northeast Corridor or short hauls, perhaps it would be economically feasible for long haul outside of the Lorton Virginia - Sanford Florida run, trips longer than overnight. I agree that for short trips you would not need autotrain. However, for long trips and people's convinience it should be for long trips. Other option is to have car rental agencies next to the rail station. Mrs Sailor and I can and have driven from Virginia Beach to Orlando to visit her family in just over 12 hours. Autotrain wouldn't save us anything, but on longer trips, i.e. DC to Chicago or Detroit or perhaps from St.Louis east to DC or west to Vegas or somewhere in California an Autotrain type service might be attractive. Bullit train is something people would have to get use to. Anybody who will travel to Europe I encourage to take a ride and give us review. |
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Post by Sailor on Dec 31, 2011 17:14:29 GMT -8
"High speed rail should not be run by our government, it should be in hands of private sector."I agree, the problem is the pols don't. I also think it should be done with no more subsidy than the airlines get per passenger/mile and not with AmTrak's life support. If it were worth doing and could be done in a way that's self supporting private industry would do it. "Beside transporting people, trains should be equipped with railcars for transport of vehicles."Autotrain? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_TrainWhile this probably wouldn't pay in the Northeast Corridor or short hauls, perhaps it would be economically feasible for long haul outside of the Lorton Virginia - Sanford Florida run, trips longer than overnight. I agree that for short trips you would not need autotrain. However, for long trips and people's convinience it should be for long trips. Other option is to have car rental agencies next to the rail station. Mrs Sailor and I can and have driven from Virginia Beach to Orlando to visit her family in just over 12 hours. Autotrain wouldn't save us anything, but on longer trips, i.e. DC to Chicago or Detroit or perhaps from St.Louis east to DC or west to Vegas or somewhere in California an Autotrain type service might be attractive. Bullit train is something people would have to get use to. Anybody who will travel to Europe I encourage to take a ride and give us review. I rode the French rail line once in 1987, from Saint cyr sur Mer to Nice. I don't know what it's like now but I wasn't overly impressed then. |
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Post by peterd on Jan 2, 2012 6:19:08 GMT -8
Sailor, high speed rail came much later. If you would take ride today, you should be impressed.
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