high speed rail

[OrlandNole]

I was involved in a study that looked at the segment between Memphis and Dallas. We ended up going to 80 mph technology for various reasons.

There are only a handful of travel markets that can truly support HSR. We may see more of what Virgin/Brightline is doing - building their own system between Miami, Orlando and ultimately Tampa.

 

[NipponPoke]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

 

[Smalltownhawkfan 1]

So I know I can look this up how fast do these trains run and how many stops between Chicago and Des Moines and how long for each stop? I like the idea but if I can drive it faster that’s what I would probably do though the train sounds fun.

 

[RileyHawk]

This won't happen as long as the oil lobby is so strong and the drive to alternative energies is stymied.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

Rules.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

So you used to go to Kobe to deliver the beef?

 

[h-hawk]

Heck, we had trains from Des Moines and other places in the 60s and early 70s.

The trains stopped coming to our Western Iowa town back in the late 60s IIRC but my dad as a Boy Scout in the 1930's, took a train to Iowa City to see the Hawks play. In some ways we have gone backwards.

 

[naturalmwa]

If we didn’t bailout the airlines, how much rail could we build?

 

[dandh]

Who cleans and sanitizes the self-driving Uber car between passengers?

Automatic Chlorox Injection.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Not sure it would work in the US outside the east coast.

I love the train system in Europe, but don’t see how we could get that level of connectivity and coverage that would make people use it.

Probably would be better to use the funds to support more rail within large metro areas vs trying to connect those large metro areas to each other.

 

[SSG T]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

Bright side, at least her train was on time...

 

[SSG T]

Not sure it would work in the US outside the east coast.

I love the train system in Europe, but don’t see how we could get that level of connectivity and coverage that would make people use it.

Probably would be better to use the funds to support more rail within large metro areas vs trying to connect those large metro areas to each other.

That would be a worthy expenditure as well

 

[DogBoyRy]

If we didn’t bailout the airlines, how much rail could we build?

Based on CA we could build about 150 miles. So the country could subsidize one track from chicago to Rock Island for the cost of the airline bailout..

 

[BioHawk]

Not sure it would work in the US outside the east coast.

I love the train system in Europe, but don’t see how we could get that level of connectivity and coverage that would make people use it.

Probably would be better to use the funds to support more rail within large metro areas vs trying to connect those large metro areas to each other.

If it could be done and made cheaper than driving, I think you'd be surprised how many people would take it. I don't know if that's possible though. I'd have to know how much a ticket from, say, Chicago to Denver would cost and how many passengers would be required at what price to make it profitable. Information I don't have.

 

[BigDelHawk]

I think high speed rail as an interstate travel solution is misguided. Makes more sense in Europe because the counties are smaller.

I think the focus should be on states connecting their rural and smallish cities to their larger cities.

Makes sense in Europe due to population density.

 

[naturalmwa]

Based on CA we could build about 150 miles. So the country could subsidize one track from chicago to Rock Island for the cost of the airline bailout..

Those self driving Uber cars are sounding better.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

As I understand, you are voting against it?

 

[83Hawk]

I loved using the rail system when visiting England, but it won’t work in the U.S. outside of the east coast.

I would probably use it, but most people won’t. They are massively expensive to operate, and the ticket cost is usually higher than flying or driving. To get people to ride, tickets need to be fairly inexpensive....which means the government would be subsidizing most of the cost.

 

[jaxhawk06]

I agree, but without a stop in the QCA or Iowa City (or both), I couldn’t see myself using it much. Driving nearly three hours to Des Moines, Chicago, Champaign, or Quincy would defeat much of the reason why I would be taking a train.

I also don’t believe tracks would pass through the QC without a stop either.

True, I think Chicago to Iowa City would be in higher demand than Chicago to Des Moines.

 

[joelbc1]

I agree, but without a stop in the QCA or Iowa City (or both), I couldn’t see myself using it much. Driving nearly three hours to Des Moines, Chicago, Champaign, or Quincy would defeat much of the reason why I would be taking a train.

I also don’t believe tracks would pass through the QC without a stop either.

Initially, ant “high speed” travel would be all about the roadbeds. This map follows a lot of the best railroad roadbeds. Across Iowa is pretty shtchy...the southern route is much better than the central route. The old CB&Q is an established and well maintained roadbed....good roadbeds= higher speeds.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Initially, ant “high speed” travel would be all about the roadbeds. This map follows a lot of the best railroad roadbeds. Across Iowa is pretty shtchy...the southern route is much better than the central route. The old CB&Q is an established and well maintained roadbed....good roadbeds= higher speeds.

And what happens to all the freight running on those lines now or are you adding lines plus bridges, etc?

 

[HumbleP1e]

I tried to find the clip...fail. What TV/movie male character is focused on trying to get high speed rail in the USA? I think he's based in Seattle for some reason.

 

[joelbc1]

And what happens to all the freight running on those lines now or are you adding lines plus bridges, etc?

High speed would need their own exclusive rails...but the secret to railroads are the quality of their beds....it’s not like their aren’t freight trains running in Europe and China...

 

[DogBoyRy]

High speed would need their own exclusive rails...but the secret to railroads are the quality of their beds....it’s not like their aren’t freight trains running in Europe and China...

Thus the cost being prohibitive.

 

[wneff]

I tried to find the clip...fail. What TV/movie male character is focused on trying to get high speed rail in the USA? I think he's based in Seattle for some reason.

The guy in Singles is trying to get light rail for commuters in Seattle.

 

[ICWestfan]

Some of you aren't looking at the negative aspects of HSR.

While living in Tokyo, I had a year-long, casual fling with a bird down in Kobe. We'd hook up if we were in either town. Nice girl. Remember, Kobe is a good 7-8 hour drive from T-town.

After a while, I started dating a gal from Yokohama just down the road. The two relationships overlapped for about a month. As things were getting really good, I elected to break it off with the Kobe chick over a morning phone call. Kobe gal got angry and hung up the phone.

So the Yokohama mama calls about 30 minutes later and wants to come over. We're chilling around my place for a bit watching some TV when all of a sudden - BAM, BAM, BAM - Kobe chick is knocking at my door. What???

That gal was so irate over that phone call, she went straight to the train station, hopped on the train and was at my door in less than 3 hours...resulting in an awkward situation.

Damn Shinkansen.

You do realize there are rules here, correct?

 

[BigDelHawk]

Initially, ant “high speed” travel would be all about the roadbeds. This map follows a lot of the best railroad roadbeds. Across Iowa is pretty shtchy...the southern route is much better than the central route. The old CB&Q is an established and well maintained roadbed....good roadbeds= higher speeds.

Iowa rejected high speed rail a few years ago, as it was going to cost yearly in subsidy. Illinois has yet to build the Chicago to QC route.

 

[HumbleP1e]

The guy in Singles is trying to get light rail for commuters in Seattle.

Yes! I couldn't place it. Thanks!

 

[texashawkeye87]

You would be using it to do what, exactly?

Do you routinely drive from Dallas to Houston and back?

You're asking me why I'd want/use an available high-speed train? I'd use it to visit Houston more frequently, obviously. I have friends in and around that area who I'd love to see on a more regular basis.

The reason I don't routinely drive from DFW to Houston is a) the time it takes to get there and b) the amount of traffic I encounter ~45 miles north of Houston, which coincides directly with part 'a'. You've clearly never had the pleasure of frequenting I-45, I have. If people had an option to transit to/from DFW/Houston in under 3 hours round-trip, I guarantee it would be used by others.

And no, flying to Houston isn't better than driving in this case due to roughly the same amount of time spent in transit (travel to airport, waiting, boarding, flying, deplaning).

For me, it makes sense. And if they operate in the same fashion as the ones I took through Europe, I am completely on board.

 

[iahawks10]

You're asking me why I'd want/use an available high-speed train? I'd use it to visit Houston more frequently, obviously. I have friends in and around that area who I'd love to see on a more regular basis.

The reason I don't routinely drive from DFW to Houston is a) the time it takes to get there and b) the amount of traffic I encounter ~45 miles north of Houston, which coincides directly with part 'a'. You've clearly never had the pleasure of frequenting I-45, I have. If people had an option to transit to/from DFW/Houston in under 3 hours round-trip, I guarantee it would be used by others.

And no, flying to Houston isn't better than driving in this case due to roughly the same amount of time spent in transit (travel to airport, waiting, boarding, flying, deplaning).

For me, it makes sense. And if they operate in the same fashion as the ones I took through Europe, I am completely on board.

Im looking at all of the stops along several different routes. With Chicago being a major transfer hub, I could watch a lot of MLB taking a one or two day trip. I’m seeing at least seven or eight cities within six or seven hours to watch a game. It would be far easier than driving and probably cheaper with everything factored in. Bonus, Columbus, OH with a stop would be great a couple times a year.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

If it was comparable in costs to flying and driving, absolutely I'd use it. I've spent weeks traveling on trains in Europe and I quite like that mode of travel over being crammed into flying aluminum tubes and boxes on wheels. I've only technically been on one high speed train in my life so far, but it was fantastic.

But when they crash, oh boy it isn't pretty. The crash in Eschede, Germany happened while my wife and I were in the country and she said no more high speed segments for her, so we took the milk delivery trains the rest of the trip.

 

[seminole97]

I recall George Will had some very prescient columns about why CA's attempt at high speed rail would be a boondoggle.
I'll to see if I can dig any up to see how they've played out.

I sure wish there was high speed rail running down the middle of I-10. I'm resigned to waiting for self driving cars to take over that boredom.