You are advocating public takeover of privately owned systems? Sounds awfully Venezuelan...
Another big differential are the speed limits of the two systems. Freight systems are typically much slower than passenger lines, and high-speed systems use entirely different track designs and configurations altogether.
Again, we are a long way away from sharing systems on the same lines.
Freight and passenger vehicles share the interstate all the time. Rail can do the same.
You are advocating public takeover of privately owned systems? Sounds awfully Venezuelan...
Another big differential are the speed limits of the two systems. Freight systems are typically much slower than passenger lines, and high-speed systems use entirely different track designs and configurations altogether.
Again, we are a long way away from sharing systems on the same lines.
No, I am not advocationg for government take over of private rail but you seem to be advocationg for public rail.
High speed rail lines are very expensive to build and work well in high density population corridors in distances less than 300 miles. See Europe and Japan for example.
Slower local trains share tracks with faster regional trains share on most of the rails however.
The populations of the Northeastern United States and California could support high speed rail. The Northeast corridor would need extensive upgrades (bridge and tunnel replacements) to make it true high speed rail.
The current travel time between Washington and New York is 2 hours and 53 minutes (compared to 2 hours and 30 minutes for PRR’s nonstop Metroliner in 1969), or an average speed of 79 mph (127 km/h). Schedule between New York and Boston is 3 hours 34 minutes, an average speed of only 63 mph (101 km/h).
High speed rail could cut that time in half but I have seen estimates of $200 Billion to $500 Billion.
My thoughts are to sell the Northeast Corridor to a private railroad and let them decide how to spend the money and run the trains. If true high speed rail is profitable then it will be implemented. California high speed rail appears to be a boondoggle, I would sell the road as well.
Full disclosure I am a frequent Amtrak guest customer and I travel on Amtrak over 20 times a year. I have taken the train cross country for vacation. I also take my parents down to Florida every year on Amtrak’s Auto Train every year.