High Speed rail in America?

[Magic069]

Rencently I did a speech, and research paper on how the United States need an alternate form of High-Speed transportation. Europe has a network of High-Speed rail lines, yet the country responsible for the invention, has only one currently in service. It is called the Acela, and connects DC with New York.

Since GTP has memebers from all over the world, I was thinking, maybe people could voice good or bad opinions on the networks in Europe.

If you live in America, I am wondering if you feel a vast network connecting major cities thoughout the country would be useful.

If you have any questions, ask me, I am learning more and more about this stuff as my paper gets closer to being due.

 

[vat_man]

In Australia the only description of high speed rail would be 'political football'.

They've been talking about a high speed rail link between Sydney and Melbourne for years but nothing ever happens. There's some talk a certain national air carrier puts pressure on the Federal Govt to stop it everytime someone talks about it.

Last year there was a proposal to put Sydney's second international airport in a nearby (about a hundred miles or so) regional town, Goulburn, and link it via high-speed rail. Sadly, since we have a Federal Govt who is incapable of making a decision (who we have since re-elected), this, along with all other options, was decided against.

Fantastic.

 

[Magic069]

its good to hear that another country seems to have the same problem when it comes to this.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by Magic069
its good to hear that another country seems to have the same problem when it comes to this.

Don't you find it curious that the only high-speed rail link is between your largest city and your capital city?

We have a similar thing - the only domestic first class air service runs between Sydney (biggest city) and Canberra (our Federal capital).

 

[Magic069]

Originally posted by vat_man


Don't you find it curious that the only high-speed rail link is between your largest city and your capital city?

We have a similar thing - the only domestic first class air service runs between Sydney (biggest city) and Canberra (our Federal capital).

well supposly its a test market train... but we all know its for faster transport of important people between important places... Those are the people that get what they want when they want it...

Here in America we just don't have enough public backing to get our congress to do anything about it. Supposly there are talks about serveral projects around the nation, but nothing has started. Maybe in the wake of Sept. 11th, high-speed rail will get a serious look. Not to say flying is not safe, i love to fly... but there are a lot of people that are thinking differently about the airplane now.

 

[LoudMusic]

Originally posted by Magic069


well supposly its a test market train... but we all know its for faster transport of important people between important places... Those are the people that get what they want when they want it...

Here in America we just don't have enough public backing to get our congress to do anything about it. Supposly there are talks about serveral projects around the nation, but nothing has started. Maybe in the wake of Sept. 11th, high-speed rail will get a serious look. Not to say flying is not safe, i love to fly... but there are a lot of people that are thinking differently about the airplane now.

That's what I was going to point out. I think high-speed rail will become a more viable option now. There have been plans off and on in all the larger states to put in state-centric high-speed rail. Texas was thinking about putting in a loop that had stations at Houston, Dallas, Ft Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. California was considering putting in rail for San Diego, San Fransisco, and Los Angeles (and probably others). I think it's a great idea. But eventually there are going to have to be connections across the country. After all, those kinds of flights were the ones used on Sept. 11th.

If I could jump on a train in Orlando, Florida, and 10 hours later be in San Diego, California, I would do it. Unfortunately that would be asking a train to average over 220mph (350kph), no stops, 10 hours.

Also, the expense for purchasing land, building and maintaining rail and equipment, and getting people to USE the trains (marketing) would be a killer. Maybe if all the little airlines sold off all their air equipment and went in together, they could make it happen. I dunno, I'm not an economist.

It's a nice thought though ... we do need to see more rail traffic.

~LoudMusic