[Paladin2]

What about the silk trains of the Milwaukee Road using hundreds of miles of electrified track including regenerative braking?

[JoeProBono]

[mamelukesabre]

Only a retired auto worker has the time and money to blow on a train trip. The rest of us scour the deals on air fare package deals.

[buccaneer81]

They're trying to shove this crap down our throats here in Ohio with a Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinatti route at the whopping high speed of 79 mph.

F it.

Willie, you need to get with the 21st century here in the USA. You like trains? Move to Europe.

[SoCal Pubbie]

“Europe, some time ago, moved ahead with high-speed rail with great success. “

I wonder if the author can tell us:

A. The price of gas in Europe.

B. The tolls charged to travel a similar route s the trains.

C. How much tax payer money it takes to keep the trains running every year.

D. About how the Feds pulled the mail contracts around 1964 and made passenger trains in the U.S. unprofitable.

[Karma Police]

First of all, an important distinction to recognize: Passenger rail vs. Freight Rail.
The U.S. freight rail network is hands down, the quickest, most efficient, safest, cheapest, and most state-of-the-art freight transportation system in the world. BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern are world class railroads who have enjoyed tremendous success in what they do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy_5r-U1EnI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMuuNpoZHOw
Now, high speed passenger rail is another thing. For truly "high speed" rail (above 79mph) dedicated trackage and an electrical grid are required. Most freight railroads are running close to capacity, and don't have the time or space to accommodate this pipe dream that is "high speed rail."
It only works in Europe, because there is little freight railroading there, and it runs mostly on dedicated trackage.

[Tainan]

Thanks Willie. I’m a fan of trains and train travel since my youth.