Some sober food for thought

[Doctor Cynic]

Someone on another forum I go to compiled a map displaying all the high speed rail lines that are operational or under construction in Europe. It's misleading, as there are many projects that are proposed for the next 20 years.

If you made an identical map of Japan or Korea or even China, all those countries are massively expanding their networks (in July the Chinese discovered a contractor used fly ash to mix in concrete on one high speed rail line and had to tear it up :rofl: ). A few weeks ago Argentina signed a contract for a new network, Turkey is nearing completion on a line from Istanbul to Ankara, Brazil has just requested bids to link Rio and Sao Paulo, Morocco has signed a deal to build its first line, and even Vietnam is pushing forward with plans to link Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City.

Meanwhile, back in North America, there are no plans forthcoming. Acela between Boston and DC is a halfassed attempt and doesn't pass the smell test. Jeb Bush engineered the defeat of a promising plan in 2004, and I suppose his brother would make a fool of himself while explaining why high speed rail is bad for Exxon...the trouble is, NO ONE, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, etc are talking about alternatives to SUVs and crowded planes (if you're in California you should get behind the referendum to approve bonds to finance a system there, if it isn't "terminated"). Someone needs to make an issue out of this, as a web of express railways will deliver huge dividends very quickly.

I end this rant with the map I was referring to:

[scarletwoman]

1. And, gee -- building up rail lines in the U.S. might mean JOBS, too!

So, obviously, that's right out...

[Auggie]

2. Our leaders are too busy ensuring record profits for oil companies

and defense contractors.

[water]

3. The oil subsidies need to stop, but at the same time...

...mass rail transit is way to susceptible to strikes.

[Doctor Cynic]

5. Sweden has gone with private contracting for public transit

so that a private company bids to provide the transit service, is required to sign a minimum workplace standard, and, more importantly, the company is penalized if the train doesn't meet service standards for any reason. This puts the fire under management's feet to avoid strikes.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Light Rail Is Needed More Than High Speed...

Last summer we took the Acela from New York to Philadelphia...a great way to travel. The trip took about an hour and no massive security checks or long lines or traveling to and from the airport. Hell, they even let my wife take her water bottle on board.

The real need in many cities is the development of light rail systems...new designs have made building these systems cheaper and more accessible. For years they've battled about building rail lines or modifying them out in our suburban area and the people here would use it, but it's been nothing but talk and little else.

[DaveJ]

6. Rail technology kind of old...

I mean, I take light rail to work every day and couldn't live without it, but IMO, it is more important to focus on efficient automobile technology which would require nothing more than flat slabs of road (or maybe less) to wherever we want to go. I can't imagine building a rail line that would provide that kind of coverage. We have the technology now, but someone powerful enough needs to just figuratively 'push a button' to implement it.