"Editor’s note: This story is part of a series that focuses on traffic congestion, mass transit and the consequences of failing to plan for worsening gridlock."
This is an interesting analysis piece on the lack of development of high speed rail in the US. I didn't see it posted so I thought I'd share.
High-speed rail remains elusive in the U.S.
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I was just reading on Railway Gazette this morning that ONCF in Morocco, Africa got its first high-speed trainset, used French TGV trainsets for 300 km/hr (186 mph) maximum speed which might be higher than the maximum speed of the US Acela trains. So now North America is now the only continent (except Antarctica) that does not have a comparable high-speed train.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
I was just reading on Railway Gazette this morning that ONCF in Morocco, Africa got its first high-speed trainset, used French TGV trainsets for 300 km/hr (186 mph) maximum speed which might be higher than the maximum speed of the US Acela trains. So now North America is now the only continent (except Antarctica) that does not have a comparable high-speed train.
As a tax payer, I sure hope it stays that way too!!!! No country in the world can make money hauling passengers, thus it is a SERVICE provided to the citizens that is paid for by the government.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
Self drive autos and trucks will eliminate the need for high speed rail. I believe self drive vehicles will be common in 50 years and mandatory in 75. It will not affect me.
NH Joe
It just occurred to me that Australia is also a continent that does not have high-speed trains.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
It just occurred to me that Australia is also a continent that does not have high-speed trains.
And for the very same reason why you'll never see it here except in a major metro corridor only.
North America is massive (and don't forget that Canada doesn't have a lot of highs-speed rail, either), and we have states which are each much larger than some European nations with towns way far apart. Apples and Oranges, you can't compare other countries with the US when dealing with size of the country unless it's a country as big as Australia.
As a tax payer, I sure hope it stays that way too!!!! No country in the world can make money hauling passengers, thus it is a SERVICE provided to the citizens that is paid for by the government.
Agreed. The only HSR projects I find interesting are the privately-funded ventures that seek to profit from their investment. If they can make it work and I don't have to pay additional taxes for it, great! California citizens are gonna be neck deep in long-term expenses with their HSR and FL Gov Rick Scott will look like a visionary for declining the federal money to start a project that would cost MUCH more for tFL taxpayers to finish and operate.
The California line to Las Vegas is absurd. Plan stupid.
The Houston-Dallas line is supposed to be built by private industry without taxpayer assistance but has been held up by small farmers looking for high profit on their property.
Certainly high-speed from Boston to Richmond and Boston to Harrisburg is feasable.
"No country in the world can make money hauling passengers, thus it is a SERVICE provided to the citizens that is paid for by the government."
Govts' don't make money off of any of the services they provide, we need a highway, a port, an airport, a fire dept, a police dept, an army, etc. we fund it. The alternative is to do without or let business interests decide the future path of your country. The first is not attractive and the second is not healthy.....DaveB
Our country is too big for HSR. Stop comparing us to Japan and France and other tiny countries with concentrated populations.
We have a 18 trillion dollar federal deficit, most states budgets are in the red. We can't even afford to defend ourselves properly anymore. High speed rail is a dream and only a dream and a dream that will not come true.
"The California line to Las Vegas is absurd. Plan stupid."
When I was a OTR Driver I had the misfortune on several occasions of having to go through Las Vegas on a Sunday afternoon or on the end of a long holiday weekend to deliver a load in CA. Even with the AC going its no fun sitting in 100+ temperature for hours because everyone leaving at the same time to get back to LA.
To me if their was ever a point A to point B location for any kind of rail system this is it.
Our country is too big for HSR. Stop comparing us to Japan and France and other tiny countries with concentrated populations.
(not a specific reply to the poster, but...)
Nobody in their right mind is advocating transcontinental bullet trains for the US (or for that matter, service to/from "flyover territory"). This trope keeps coming up over and over again.
HSR supporters with their heads screwed on right are only advocating for services between large urban centers where the distance already makes sense, and/or the traffic density is at such a level that there aren't any cheaper alternatives to letting traffic devolve into gridlock. (besides slapping tolls on them so high as to discourage travel)
---PCJ
HSR will remain a pipe dream for the U.S. Citizens continue to believe the line handed them by politicians, bureaucrats, and lobbyists that our "third world" transportation system is sufficient for America. The decades of costs of building more roads and the corresponding traffic gridlock; providing financial "crutches" to a deteriorating airline industry; all of that money would have been more than ample to create a financial foundation for HSR and help the environment far more than cars and planes do. However, Americans will forever be addicted to their vehicular "crack". Just don't whine about the consequences.
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