How to build an intercity train system (vanity)

Tubular Rail Inc. ^ | 14 Feb 2010 | Politically Correct

[Politically Correct]

There always seems to be talk of intercity high speed rail. Usually by progressives that want to get us out of our cars and aircraft.

To be economically viable there are several things that such a service must provide.

1. Cost equivalent to air travel.
2. Transfer stations in convenient locations, not necessarily city centers.
3. Privately run but government encouraged with expedited environmental impact and right of ways.

For number one to work the cost of the infrastructure to build the system must be relatively low and much of this includes right of way. The tubular rail system can use many existing highway rights of way.

Transfer locations could be set up at airports which are already transportation hubs and facilitates going from long distance flights to shorter runs to close cities.

Standardize the tube pylons and let anyone build the trains, offer service and run on the system.

Thoughts?

[mountainlion]

Trains and bus systems and even the old trolley car systems were put out of business by the use of automobiles. How do the green rats expect to make it work now?

[devane617]

You just never know what will pop up on fr these days...

[sodpoodle]

Where are the 21st Century entrepreneurs?

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4232548.html

[smokingfrog]

Where are the brakes?

[cripplecreek]

Strip money from road building, let roads deteriorate, build trains, control the car companies, force people into the cities.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"Transfer locations could be set up at airports"

Go to Europe and see how often the train hub is in (under) the airport - I think Heathrow which has widely separated terminals has a station in each of them. Then compare to America where it seems that there is a deliberate policy not to put the train at the airport. That has always puzzled me.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The public be damned! Ask a guy who knows!

[Lokibob]

Salt Lake City has a system of heavy rail intra city trains, light rail through the city, buses for the rest of the city’s, and even a van procurement program for carpoolers. Every piece of moving stock except the vans are wifi hotspots. I love riding the bus, trax to SLC.

.....Bob

[struggle]

Set it up like Japan - with private companies.

[Politically Correct]

Where are the brakes?

In the pylons.

[Politically Correct]

Trains and bus systems and even the old trolley car systems were put out of business by the use of automobiles. How do the green rats expect to make it work now?

Standardize the pylons (tubes)by government fiat and give away the right of way along the highway and let private enterprise build it and run it.

If you think about it that makes it much like the airlines. The gov sets the air corridors and private enterprise built the rest.

I'm not saying that it necessarily would work but it's got a shot at replacing short haul air and won't cost the taxpayer a Penney.

[frposty]

Tubular Rail needs to build a demonstration line. I love trains but havn’t seen a financial case made for a large expansion of passenger service.

A car (or other personal vehicle) is a wonderful, cheap way for transporting people and their stuff.

The justification for alternatives to cars can’t be based merely on fear of what the future will bring.

I don’t see how government spending billions of our money on rail systems will help the economy beyond putting some construction people to work for a few years. Once completed the rail systems will likely be a perpetual drain on taxpayers just as they are now.

Today’s local newspaper had an article on a rail project to improve the line between Charlotte and Winston Salem. It will be done with 545 million stimulus dollars. Never did the article mention how many passengers use the current line.

Hey! My wife gave me “Going Rogue” for Valentine’s Day.

[mosesdapoet]

Interesting.
The link between rapid rail and airport terminals always made sence to me, But I don’t know of any airport which has an AMTRAK connection with the exception of a planned terminus in Madison Wisconsin which is 10 miles outside of town and no link into the city.

Chicago for instance has a subway line link between its two airports Midway and O’Hare. The Orange and Blue lines which take 40 minutes (with a transfer in the “Loop”)to go across town, as opposed to 1-1/2+ hrs by road,to get to either airport. But its Metra/AMTRAK rail terminal, Union Station, has no subway connection.

What makes those two lines worthy of mention is both were built mainly on public right of way. The Blue lines runs down an expressway median zipping past traffic congestion and the Orange line on parts of Illinois Michigan canal right of way.

There is no reason and perhaps its too logical to install high speed rail right of way on certain existing freeways.And its my understanding with the 8 billion stimulus for “high speed rail” none of it is supposed to go for right of way aquisition.

For more of that check out this satiric piece http://www.theusmat.com.natldesksatire.htm

Up until the 1950’s most interurban light rail (street cars-intersuburban trains-buses) were privately owned. The city or town would receive revenue for operating rights from the operator.

Today they are a drain on revenue sources because they’ve become politicized through socialization. Replete with boards of directors drawing huge benefits appointed by politicians who then “take care of” (give jobs-contracts etc )and cave into union demands for benefits which exceed the bottom line of revenue. Then go to the OTM bank.

[mountainlion]

Strip money from road building, let roads deteriorate, build trains, control the car companies, force people into the cities.

You forgot take away all rights and take all the guns to be able to force people into dirty Cities!

[mountainlion]

Standardize the pylons (tubes)by government fiat and give away the right of way along the highway and let private enterprise build it and run it.

Excuse me but hey gave away 640 acres of land along rail roads in the 1800’s and that has failed. Why do we want to fail again? Lots of interstate highways were built with space for rail roads but there are no takers. You can only force a company to do something so long as they still have money.

[cyclotic]

I just moved from Detroit area to Baltimore. My wife and kids are still home till we can sell our house. I’ve checked my options for going home on some weekends.

Round trip
Air $180-250 2 hours
Drive $90 16 hours
Amtrak $150 34 hours

Since the air time doesn’t include time to get to and from airport and sitting around for 2 hours per flight waiting to board, and that I like to drive, driving is by far the best bet.

[Eye of Unk]

I would love to see more applications of freeways with a computer controlled auto pilot that tucks the vehicles in like a NASCAR race, with on board systems monitoring any vehicles having even the slightest problem would be checked out of the procession such as a low tire or low fuel.

There are many commuter routes across the US that this can be used. Eventually we will have the vehicle control stuff like what we saw in the movie “The Sixth Day”.

Unfortunately we also have an immense barrier to almost any modernization of such ideals, its Islam.

For every advancement Islam will find it either contradictory or a tool to use as a weapon. Or complain that they cannot use it as a weapon.

I can just imagine Muslim suicide bombers and the teleportation used in the far future such as created by Star Trek. Mankind’s future is resting upon our decisions NOW about allowing Islam to rule the world.