Why don't we have High Speed Trains?
- Thread starter Hey Zeus
- Start date
If they actually went that fast, yes.
I took a train from NYC to Buffalo a few years back and it was an 8 hour trip. That's just too much time and not worth it, when the ticket is nearly as much as a plane ticket and the plane trip is less than an hour.
Likewise, a train ride from where I am now to LA (roughly 300 miles north of LA) is roughly 8 hours (switching to bus half-way there because the train doesn't go all the way). If it were an hour and a half or so, and reasonably priced, I would probably tend to go there more often. As it is, driving there can be done in 6 hours on less than a tank of gas...the train just doesn't make sense.
As for why we don't have them...I'd imagine it's because we're too big of pussies and the potential liability for a 150-200mph train wreck is a lot more than a 55-70mph train wreck.
I took a train from NYC to Buffalo a few years back and it was an 8 hour trip. That's just too much time and not worth it, when the ticket is nearly as much as a plane ticket and the plane trip is less than an hour.
Likewise, a train ride from where I am now to LA (roughly 300 miles north of LA) is roughly 8 hours (switching to bus half-way there because the train doesn't go all the way). If it were an hour and a half or so, and reasonably priced, I would probably tend to go there more often. As it is, driving there can be done in 6 hours on less than a tank of gas...the train just doesn't make sense.
As for why we don't have them...I'd imagine it's because we're too big of pussies and the potential liability for a 150-200mph train wreck is a lot more than a 55-70mph train wreck.
InflatableBuddha
Diamond Member
- Jul 5, 2007
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And lobbyists for auto companies, oil companies etc. It cannot be just coincidence that most European countries have drastically higher fuel prices but far more efficient rail networks.
I never quite understood the big push for high-speed trains. Airplanes are faster, more flexible, and more environmentally-friendly, so why would anyone use such an outmoded form of transportation for anything other than bulk freight?
I could see it for the megalopolis section, and for San Fran down SoCal, but for much of the rest, flight makes way more sense.
As for why it wouldn't work, see AmTrak. There isn't a private business that could raise the money, and there's about a billion hurdles (zoning, planning for instance), and there's just not enough support for it to be successful.
Americans have also largely shunned trains with the advent of the automobile.
As for why it wouldn't work, see AmTrak. There isn't a private business that could raise the money, and there's about a billion hurdles (zoning, planning for instance), and there's just not enough support for it to be successful.
Americans have also largely shunned trains with the advent of the automobile.
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Gooberlx2
Lifer
- May 4, 2001
- 15,381
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High speed trains make no sense for cross-country trips. But direct commuter trips would be great (assuming the ridership is there).
Milwaukee<-->Chicago
LA<-->SF
DC<-->Philly<-->NYC<-->Boston
CO Springs<-->Denver<-->Ft. Collins
Seattle<-->Portland, etc...
Milwaukee<-->Chicago
LA<-->SF
DC<-->Philly<-->NYC<-->Boston
CO Springs<-->Denver<-->Ft. Collins
Seattle<-->Portland, etc...
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Will I take it? If they make it less hassle to go through than airport security, yes I would take it every single time. I have taken high speed trains in many other parts of the world and it is much more comfortable than planes.
Will it have enough customer to be profitable is another story. I know a couple of newly built high speed train is in financial trouble because they don't have enough customer.
Will it have enough customer to be profitable is another story. I know a couple of newly built high speed train is in financial trouble because they don't have enough customer.
- Dec 31, 2009
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- Dec 31, 2009
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cost: infinity billion dollars
Buses seem more practical. A train can only be going in 1 direction for each track on the ground, but it's possible to have 5 buses going from NY to Boston while 3 buses are going from Boston to NY at the same time.
I'm going to guess because we have planes which are cheaper for most of what you listed. Oh and 130mph is far from high speed.
So, you tax the hell out of gas to subsidize a train system that loses money.
It's far easier to build rail in a far smaller area. The US is simply a huge piece of landmass with populations spread out. The population density is a fraction of Europe, thus, more people can ride trains more easily.
- Dec 31, 2009
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So pretty much the same money we've spent in Iraq?
When are you darn liberals gonna learn that spending money on shit that is expected to be destroyed is good but spending money on infrastructure is bad?
- Dec 31, 2009
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0roo0roo
No Lifer
- Sep 21, 2002
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http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/what-the-stimul/
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/01/governor-mike-d/
theres more detail on the actual projects and better maps in the actual paper edition.
some like the chicago area one are only 150mph retrofits.
the california and such are 220mph .
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/01/governor-mike-d/
theres more detail on the actual projects and better maps in the actual paper edition.
some like the chicago area one are only 150mph retrofits.
the california and such are 220mph .
Some what a misnomer.
Train have many stops between 2 destinations, hence much longer travel time when compare to driving or fly.
It took me 2 days travel by train from Vancouver Canada to LA. CA, and another 1.5 day from LA to El Paso TX.
It take me 2 days to drive by myself from Vancouver to LA, so as coming back on the I-5. Flying from Vancouver YVR to LAX take me half a day including wait time & custom.
IMHO, train is design for bulk shipment over land not people that is on the move, but the low speed of train traveling enable one to meet/interact with fellow travelers.
I also have taken the train across Canada, and Vietnam/Thailand.
idiotekniQues
Platinum Member
- Jan 4, 2007
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