Posted on 05/24/2026 6:54:48 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
I'm BAAAAACK from my trip to Spain but I almost didn't make it because yesterday I came very close to leaving this world due to suffocation at the Madrid airport and Steve Hilton was the culprit. Let me explain the background to this before revealing why I am blaming Steve Hilton for almost causing the end of ol' PJ:
Our two-week trip to Spain was absolutely amazing. I could explain why in detail here but will do so in a series of videos in the near future. But as to how I almost suffocated at the Madrid airport yesterday it is important to know how impressed I was by the Spanish railroad system. It was extensive, fast, comfortable, and very reasonably priced for the passengers in both intercity rail systems as well as for municipal metro rail systems which were mostly underground. For example, for the Madrid metro system which is mostly (or all) deep underground, 10 trips cost us a TOTAL of only 9.8 Euros with the transfers free. From our hotel we could travel about a half hour to the royal palace in Madrid or central Madrid for only a little over a dollar USD with very little wait time for the frequent trains to arrive.
We also traveled to Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Toledo via very comfortable trains. And the whole time we were amazed at just how incredible the Spanish high speed rail system worked. As a result my conversations with Spanish people there were often about how fantastic their rail systems were compared to the situation of the USA (with the possible exception of the Miami area which does have a very good, though underused rail system).
Naturally in those conversations the comparison to the $200 billion California high speed train nowhere often came up. It turns out I UNDERESTIMATED the expense because at the Madrid airport cafeteria while awaiting our impending flight back home yesterday, I was killing time by researching the topic of the CA "high speed" rail on my cell phone. So the cost (so far) actually OVER $230 billion and still climbing. However, in the course of researching the topic of the ridiculous cost of the CA "high speed" rail I came upon a clip of Steve Hilton talking to PBD on "Valuetainment" in which he described the absurdity of that pathetic rail system. Hilton said that to go from San Francisco to Los Angeles you first have to catch a regular speed train to Merced. Then in Merced you finally get to travel on high speed rail over the flat land to Bakersfield. However, once in Bakersfield you have to get off the train and and transfer to a BUS to complete the trip to Los Angeles.
Well, when I heard Steve say that about transferring to a bus in Bakersfield I burst out laughing so loud and long that my wife asked me what was so funny. I calmed down just enough to begin describing what Steve Hilton said but when I came to the part about having to take a bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles I just couldn't go on and went into an uncontrollable laughing fit to the extent that I actually got scared over the fact that I couldn't breath. With great effort I finally calmed down just enough to get a breath and finish telling my wife about taking the bus in Bakersfield which not only caused my wife to also burst out laughing with tears flowing but set me off once again battling against the suffocation induced by Steve Hilton's statement.
Yes, I survived the Steve Hilton suffocation attack but now all I have to say to my wife, "Take a bus in Bakersfield" to cause us both to again burst out into laughter. Hopefully, I have developed some resistance to the laughter causing a final suffocation which almost happened yesterday at the Madrid airport.
The Spanish high speed rail system is heavily subsidized by the Spanish government.
Does rail make sense for Europe? Probably. It is much more densely populated than the USA.
Rail is much better because it takes you right to the center of the city, and there’s no waiting for luggage.
In the end it’s quicker than taking a flight, even if the flight duration itself isn’t that long.
Talk about click-bait. And old news.
Talk about click-bait. And old news.
I love taking the train. It is as you say about the ease of boarding and deboarding and MUCH more comfortable than a plane or even most autos. And it isn’t all that expensive, even if you upgrade a little. The only thing that keeps me from riding the rails more often is the limited runs that (in my area) make you have to get up at ungodly hours to catch one or pick someone up.
Riiiiight! "Old News" that is TWO DAYS OLD because that is when Steve Hilton said it.
Spanish high speed rail system is pretty good.
However the cost was so staggering, that it singlehandedly put the country into deep debt.
They stopped any more expansion, since there are no money left.
And yes, the train will end up near Bakersfield (the last short leg to Bakersfield is still not funded) and people will have to take a bus from there!
Obviously, they plan the extension to LA, but than may be in next century!
Nobody knows when.
So you almost did a george floyd on us?
As a small child in the early 1960s, this transfer from Bakersfield over the Tehachapi Mountains was exactly how we took the (then) Pacific Coast Starlight train from Richmond, CA to San Diego. Back then, it was operated by the Santa Fe Railroad.
Our first fast rail experience was yesterday, going from Madrid to Alicante. It was quite impressive. The Colonel’s Wife had some trepidation but ended up a fan.
Colonel, USAF JAGC (Ret)
Well, I’ve never been to Spain...................
When my daughter was in college in DC, I actually preferred taking the train from Providence to DC. Took me 10 minutes to get to the train station by bus, then it was a peaceful 9-hour trip to DC. No checking in, no walking miles to your gate, no turbulence, and no waiting for hundreds of people pushing and shoving to get off the train. Bring a good book, take a walk to the dining car, or just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Rail is much better because it takes you right to the center of the city, and there’s no waiting for luggage.
Rail has advantages. It also has plenty of disadvantages.
The United States Interstate system is the greatest mass transit system ever devised by the mind of man.
With autonomous vehicles, it will add most of the advantages of trains without the disadvantages.
When you can take a nap or work or relax while the car drives you for 4-6 hours at a stretch, most of the advantages of trains, and even planes go away.
Bus from Bakersfield to LA? What and where is the BUS STATION in LA that they will dump the riders out at? Because you know that bus stations are almost always in the *best* part of town, especially in the largest cities.
Of your travels, did you prefer Portugal or Spain, PJ?
Nor has Three Dog Night
takes you right to the center of the city,
Awww but in America you want to stay as far away from city centers as possible....lest you run into urban yutes.
That is true, that’s the big difference between the US and Europe.
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