Thread: High-Speed Rails

The US people should have heard of this $8 bn news.

Obama announces $8 billion investment in high-speed train system

29 Jan Washington (CNN) -- President Obama announced Thursday that the federal government will spend $8 billion developing a nationwide high-speed train system -- an investment the White House says is needed to help spur long-term economic growth.

The investment, to be made through a series of state grants, will be funded through the government's $862 billion economic stimulus package.

Overall, projects and planning involving the rail corridors will take place in 31 states, according to a White House statement. ....

More than 30 rail manufacturers have agreed to establish or expand U.S. operations if they are hired to work on the high-speed rail network, the administration said. ....

This is about China's investments into HSR.

Rail revolution positions China

28 Jan [ChinaEconomicReview] .... Beijing's $103 billion stimulus plan includes heavy spending on a high-speed rail system.

Now China has the fastest-running trains in the world. When completed, the fast rail will leave this country in a solid position for fast and sustainable growth in the century.

Beijing has a giant plan to invest $556 billion on high-speed rail over the coming five years, to extend its network by up to 20,000 kilometers, connecting nearly all provincial cities and moving people and freight on the fastest tracks in the world. ....

You know my view on high speed rail. The European and the Asian success won't be duplicated here. Our population density is too low to support a profitable business model.

It is expected that at the US some would like it while others would not. GE is happy.

GE Says Obama’s Energy, Rail Policies May Spur Hiring

Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) -- General Electric Co. is hiring workers in energy, health care and rail transportation in part because governments’ economic-stimulus policies have created demand, two executives said today. ....

GE is bidding to supply new passenger locomotives for Amtrak and in November announced joint venture in China that would make high-speed rail locomotives that may add 200 U.S. jobs. The venture will to tap a plan to build new high-speed rail corridors that President Barack Obama is announcing today, said Vice Chairman John Rice. ....

Originally Posted by gunnut

You know my view on high speed rail. The European and the Asian success won't be duplicated here. Our population density is too low to support a profitable business model.

Aside from a litany of logistical problems and frieght carriers still ruling 99% of existing track rights and scheduling, I think HSR can still be implemented and can succeed if it starts small. The NEC is really doing well right now, especially as the airlines continue to shoot themselves in the foot by cutting back on passenger amenities.

I know there will never be something on the scale of a NY-LA high speed line, but I think in time intercity HSR is a real and viable solution to short-mid distance travel.

Originally Posted by Merlin

It is expected that at the US some would like it while others would not. ...

Apparently California welcomes it.

California closer to dream of being US high-speed rail capital

28 Jan [CSMonitor] President Obama announced Thursday that California would receive $2.7 billion to boost its high-speed rail plan. The state hopes to link Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2017.

Californians are cheering the news that the state’s high-speed rail project is getting $2.3 billion from the federal stimulus program.

The amount is considerably less than the $4.7 billion requested by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October. But experts say the award is still good news for the state’s transportation system. ....

Heck if you are going to throw that much money at the rail system, why not go whole hog and put in a Vac train line.
It was first proposed back in the 70s, so with today's tech it should be doable.
Sure it would eat up major $$$ but so what think of all the nifty stimulus to industry you would get.

We already have trains here in the U.S. No one rides them. We like our cars and our airplanes just fine.

-dale

Originally Posted by Merlin

Apparently California welcomes it.

California closer to dream of being US high-speed rail capital

Sir, California does not welcome it. LA and SF and surrounding cities welcome it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Califor...ition_1A_(2008)

Unfortunately, LA and SF have huge voting base and pretty much overrode the rest of the state.

A classic "tyranny of the majority."

Originally Posted by dalem

We already have trains here in the U.S. No one rides them. We like our cars and our airplanes just fine.

-dale

Beg to differ, everybody rides commuter trains in the Northeast/Chicago city metro areas, but its pretty much limited to these areas.

Originally Posted by gunnut

... A classic "tyranny of the majority."

This is democracy, isn't it?

Originally Posted by dalem

We already have trains here in the U.S. No one rides them. We like our cars and our airplanes just fine.

-dale

Isn't that just cause they're too slow? We have them here too, but no-one uses them cause they take twice as long as driving.

I find Trains a far more pleasant way to travel than anything plane or car. If we had high speed rail here, Id use it all the time.

Originally Posted by zara

I find Trains a far more pleasant way to travel than anything plane or car.

I agree.

If we had high speed rail here, Id use it all the time.

Where are you from? Would appreciate indicating it somewhere under your name or in your profile.

Zara is Irish iirc.