[Olog-hai]

Just two years ago, the same bogus plan was estimated to cost $117 billion. So it’s gone up from $260 million per mile (unheard of anywhere on the globe) to a whopping $336 million per mile (that’s assuming Washington to Boston), all for a duplicate of an existing railroad that is not doing badly as is (i.e. for minimal freight rail operations).

For comparison, back in the late 1960s when they were developing the Budd Metroliner cars, the promise back then was to have 160-mph operation on the extant railroad (former Pennsylvania Railroad). They regurgitated similar promises with the Acela Express, albeit with a slower top speed (“up to” 150 mph, to use their stilted ambiguous language). Amazing how they made a lie extend over four decades (almost five) . . . and they weren't spending colossal amounts for upgrading the railroad back then either ($335 million in 2012 dollars for the 225-mile stretch between New York and Washington DC, and now they want multiple billions).

Oh yeah: White Plains?!? Why don’t they just rebuild the old NY Central all the way to Chatham NY and run Amtrak there en route to Albany while they’re at it? (Oh sorry; another rail-trail conversion north of Wassaic.)

[Huebolt]

Make New York and Pennsylvania PAY FOR THE G*DD***ED THING!!!!

[DuncanWaring]

The newest Amtrak improvement plan also calls for direct links to airports ...

If you're going to an airport, why not fly ... at 600 mph?

[Wuli]

If American travelers absolutely want, need, and are willing to pay for and support “high speed rail” on the “north east corridor” from Washington, D.C. to Boston (if it is economically legitimate) then it can best be achieved by selling Amtrak in an IPO, supporting it in government when it comes to trying to develop “rights of way” and letting private capital investment, technology and the “inter-modal” transportation market place decide how it will all work out.

In other words, get all the politics off the table and let the private sector try to work it out.

That is the only kind of “high speed rail” development that Conservatives should be supporting.

[China Clipper]

Hmmm Let's see if anyone else is planning on doing something stupid like this.....

"PAGING CALIFORNIA, PAGING CALIFORNIA. PLEASE PICK UP THE WHITE PAGING PHONE!"

[Psycho_Bunny]

I’m confused by this articles assumption that Amtrak will be around in 2040.

[Gaffer]

It isn't about value, it isn't about efficiency, need or return-on-investment. It is precisely about Union Jobs, and all the stealing that is concomitant with it.

Politicians will get paid, Unions will get paid, Government will get paid; taxpayers will get raped.

Just what the hell is it for? So the typical welfare recipient can shuttle quickly between two states to apply for, administer and arrange for doubled-dipped welfare checks....

Don't think I'm joking; this has been done before - a lot!

[WKUHilltopper]

Just believe really, really, really, really hard that you will be in Philly from NYC and it will happen! They teach us that in school! You can do anything you believe you can!

[bigbob]

Cripes, if our gov’t wasn’t doing everything in its power to kill innovation and capitalism, by 2040 we ought to have the technology to BEAM someone from NY to Philadelphia in 37 milliseconds!

[longtermmemmory]

again?

this report / projection is recycled every time amtrack feels threatened by budget cuts.

Trains are pointless except for cargo.

Driverless cars are the future.

[ex-snook]

So who paid for the roads for the RR’s competitors?

[Cementjungle]

Amtrak plans 37-minute train from New York to Philadelphia by 2040

Will the unionized conductors still have to be paid 2.5 hours for each trip?

[mikey_hates_everything]

The current rail route won’t support those speeds so new land will have to be acquired/seized and/or the track will be elevated. Between the environmental, safety, aesthetic and other lawsuits, it will never happen.

[Born to Conserve]

The problem with trains is that you either have to fork out for first class, or you are stuck in steerage with the most disgusting people! $200 for first class Acela, or $90 for steerage? I go with first class every time.

[VeniVidiVici]

Amtrak plans 37-minute train from New York to Philadelphia by 2040

I can walk and be there long before 2040.

[Teacher317]

The real question is whether it is worth it to travel from NYC to PHI in 30 FEWER minutes. The existing trip isn’t horrible (although there’s not too much demand for it). Do we really want to allot a quarter TRILLION dollars to making the trip a half hour shorter for a few thousand folk? Millions of folks with a 90 minute commute times each way in their cars might be feeling otherwise.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I’m sure Maryland Governor Martin O’Moron would NEVER support anything this stupid. /s

Maryland “Freak State” PING!