High Speed Rails in th US?

[Spirits Reborn]

High Speed Rail


So apparently, there is a chance of high speed rails coming to US. (About time too). Although other countries have been enjoying them for quite awhile now, they're built on an much smaller scale than US. And considering that there is only $8 Million allocated to this project (and will likely cost over $40 mil) what do you think?

Is it worth it the time and money? Do you see yourself using it (if it ever came into fruition? Do you think it would last/ be a viable alternative to driving/plane? Discuss.
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my response - I think its worth it. Being able to travel from one place to another at 200mph (or more) would be very convenient. And I'm not sure but I'm guessing that travelling by this HSR (high speed rail) would be less damaging to the environment than driving/plane. So win/win.

Although I'm going to assume that its going to be quite pricey when it comes out, so I don't see it being an immediate replacement for planes.

[SpiritWarrior]

I's worth it, on many many levels. But, it won't be in the US for a long time. This money is just going to improvements right now. It is an early step of a path laid out to eventually get it in every state I guess.

[Arvon]

Don't worry it'll be many years before it happens. They haven't even gone through the envioromental impact studies yet. And that'll take tens of years.

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Am I the only one who thought that this is the kind of project designed to get us out of a depression?

[Chewbacca]

We shoold connect the Nation with Disney World Monorails.

[Spirits Reborn]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca We shoold connect the Nation with Disney World Monorails.

That would definitely get us out of this "depression"..

Everyone will be smiling and happy alongside of mickey and the gang.


But seriously, I hadn't considered that. I guess it takes money to make money. And In theory, connecting the busy/big cities with a HSR, would make it easier to do business. And possibly helping the dying cow that is our economy.

Still like Arvon said, it'll be years until this comes into fruition.

[Bungleau]

Ermmm... that number is off. Not Million... Billion. Or maybe even Trillion.

For 8 million, you can put a nice high-speed rail inside a single city. You can't connect anything of value.

Were it there, however, I'd be interested in using it.

[wellard]

Those numbers (8 million) would just be for a feasibility / costing exercise. Work out the best route and ownership of land, travel needs of the public etc

The real cost would easily be in the tens of billions, however it is the best way foreword IMO. Even though i work in the airline industry high speed rail travel will always be faster in real terms, cheaper and safer and a lot more environmentally acceptable.

[Olorin]

HSR nationwide would be interesting, but I don't know how well it could compete with air travel.

I periodically make the flight from LA to Grand Rapids, MI. It's around 4-5 hours in the air, plus a layover somewhere (like Chicago) and time spend at the airport for security and check-in. Total travel time is at least 7 hours. Price is usually in the $400 range round-trip. But if I just fly to Chicago, I can find tickets between $200-250, and spend 3 hours driving a rental car from O'Hare. That may not even add time to my trip when layover + CHI to GRR flight + drive home from airport is factored in.

I could take Amtrack instead for $385 roundtrip--but it's 47 hours each way + transfer time in Chicago. The pricing structure is more friendly though. Instead of doubling my ticket price to add a connection of less than $200 miles, it's an extra $90. Of course, that makes flying from LA to Chicago a no-brainer. Air travel is almost $100 cheaper, and 40 hours faster.

Even a HSR system that had an AVG speed of 200 mph would take 11 hours to make the LA to Chicago trip. So I don't see long distance travel being taken over by rail traffic unless the price is much lower than air travel (which could come about if rail prices are subsidized, or if fuel costs cause air travel to become more expensive). But at least 11 hours is only half a day instead of the two days that Amtrack takes.

However, for shorter trips, a HSR could compete on travel time if the check-in process is kept to a minimum. If the cost is competitive, it could be a viable option. Chicago to Grand Rapids could be done in about an hour, vs. a gate-to-gate flight time of 45 min. I could easily see myself flying to Chicago and then completing the last leg on a train. Without the airport layover, I might even arrive earlier with a flight-train combo. Plus, with airlines charging almost $200 for the 180 mile flight, trains can easily beat them on price. Amtrack already offers service for about $60 round trip--though with a 4 hour travel time.

Under the current conditions, I most often make the trip home using a flight to Chicago + a car rental. It's the overall fastest trip possible, as well as one of the cheapest. Using Amtrack could save me a little $$, but I'd have to spend money to get to the train station, and I find it's useful to have a rental car for my visit anyway.