I support transcontinental rail shipment of goods. Passenger service is another matter. I don’t know of any system that is paying its own way. Here in California we are voting on a measure to authorize $10 billion in bonds to begin construction of a high-speed rail connection between LA and San Francisco. They have already spent $60 million studying the concept. The voter guide indicates the following fiscal impact on California voters: “State costs of $19.4 billion, assuming 30 years to pay both principal and interest costs of the bonds. Payments should average $647 million per year. When constructed, unknown operation and maintenance costs, probably over $1 billion annually; at least partially and potentially fully offset by passenger fares.” Anyone want to guess what fares between LA and San Francisco would have to be to fully offset $1 billion per year? (Some estimate the real cost would come closer to $50 billion, all for passengers to ride from those two main cities.)
The argument in favor of the measure is that traffic will be removed from the highways, airports will be less congested, and California will be the first in the nation to have high-speed railway service, just like Europe or Japan. As one commentator has indicated, Californians don’t have trouble getting from Los Angeles to San Francisco, they have trouble getting to work each day. The state has more or less put a moratorium on new or expanded roads and has allowed the infrastructure to crumble, making commuting a daily nightmare for so many. This is one voting household who will vote no on this measure.
Hear, hear! We will also be voting no on the SF/LA train, for the reasons you cited. In addition, we have a “SMART” train proposal up here in Sonoma/Marin counties that has been up for a vote already several times and been voted down. I will be voting against that one again, too. They want to run the thing to Larkspur, for heaven’s sake, and then if you want to go into SF you have to take the ferry. That means that to get to the city from Santa Rosa, it will cost you about $20 — each way! And the ferry takes forever! And $20 is the *subsidized* cost! Who is going to commute via train & ferry when it costs you $40 round trip? That’s a no, thank you.
My husband and I spent several months in Europe a few years ago and used the trains there extensively. They were terrific! But until they can make passenger trains here more cost-effective, it’s a no go.