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U.S. high-speed rail's ship finally comes in
Washington Post ^ | Sunday, April 25, 2010 | John Rosenthal

Posted on 04/23/2010 11:21:29 AM PDT by Willie Green

Like the gleam on the tracks from an oncoming locomotive, high-speed rail transportation in the United States may be finally coming into sight. Before the end of the decade, rail backers promise, Americans will be traveling on bullet trains, the way Europeans and Asians have been doing for half a century. At speeds of up to 220 mph, high-speed rail will make it possible to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours, or half the time it takes to drive. Tampa to Orlando will take less than an hour, or 35 percent faster than by car. You'll be able to get from Chicago to St. Louis in less time than it takes to fly -- after you factor in the hours spent getting to and from distant airports and the hassle of getting through security 90 minutes before your flight.

The myriad benefits of high-speed rail have long been apparent to anyone who has ridden Japan's Shinkansen trains or France's TGV. These so-called bullet trains are faster than driving, more comfortable and convenient for short distances than flying and, because they run on electricity, don't rely on foreign oil imports. Trains arrive in downtown city centers and are usually linked to public transit.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: boondoggle; chicagocorruption; failrail; infrastructure; monorail; pork; stimulus; transportation
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1 posted on 04/23/2010 11:21:29 AM PDT by Willie Green
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To: Willie Green
At speeds of up to 220 mph, high-speed rail will make it possible to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours, or half the time it takes to drive

What makes passengeers think that they are going to get through security to get on a train any quicker than it will take them to get on a plane?

And a plane can "make it there" quicker than a car or a train without the infrastructure of "one set of tracks".

2 posted on 04/23/2010 11:24:03 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: Willie Green
because they run on electricity, don't rely on foreign oil imports.

And where does the electricity come from?

3 posted on 04/23/2010 11:25:55 AM PDT by oldbrowser (The audacity of incompetence)
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To: a fool in paradise

“What makes passengeers think that they are going to get through security to get on a train any quicker than it will take them to get on a plane?”

LOL! Good point! They won’t.


4 posted on 04/23/2010 11:26:33 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (Fix bayonets!)
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To: oldbrowser

Obama’s Stash...!


5 posted on 04/23/2010 11:26:54 AM PDT by wac3rd (Prepare for the November 2010 Tsunami)
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To: Willie Green

Laughable propaganda from this jerk and the WAPO


6 posted on 04/23/2010 11:27:05 AM PDT by DontTreadOnMe2009 (So stop treading on me already!)
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To: Willie Green
Before the end of the decade, ...

Environmental studies will be through the Appeals process and heading toward the final round of adjudication. Obtaining right of way will then be able to begin.

7 posted on 04/23/2010 11:27:55 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: a fool in paradise

Are they also suggesting that train travel is as safe as air travel per passenger mile? I’ve seen train wrecks. It’s no prettier than aircraft crashes.


8 posted on 04/23/2010 11:28:08 AM PDT by BelegStrongbow (Dear Leader: you have two ears and one mouth. Start using them in proportion.)
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To: Willie Green
"At speeds of up to 220 mph, high-speed rail will make it possible to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours..."

Oh goody! And just think when they invent airplanes we'll get there even faster!

9 posted on 04/23/2010 11:28:09 AM PDT by avacado
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To: Willie Green

What would be the cost to get on one of these trains?


10 posted on 04/23/2010 11:28:23 AM PDT by psjones (u)
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To: Willie Green

Another Liberal wet dream come true that the American people will be subsidizing for centuries to come!


11 posted on 04/23/2010 11:29:01 AM PDT by Laserman
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To: avacado

I want my flying car.


12 posted on 04/23/2010 11:30:05 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: a fool in paradise
And a plane can "make it there" quicker than a car or a train without the infrastructure of "one set of tracks".
A plane can't go anywhere without the infrastructure of someplace to land.
13 posted on 04/23/2010 11:31:01 AM PDT by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!!)
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To: a fool in paradise
What makes passengeers think that they are going to get through security to get on a train any quicker than it will take them to get on a plane?

Well, for one thing, it could be quicker because - after a superficial security check before boarding - security personnel could move through the cars after disembarcation, conducting a more-thorough search.

You can't do that on an airplane.

Further, a much more powerful explosive charge would be necessary to cripple a train - and even then, there would be survivors (as opposed to mid-air detonations).

Further, it would be much more difficult to hijack a train and/or divert its course.

Finally, in the event of, e.g., a hostage situation, it would be easier to get law enforcement officials onto the train.

So, all in all, less security would be needed, and the consequences of a breach of security would be less severe.

Regards,

14 posted on 04/23/2010 11:31:20 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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To: Laserman
And Chicago will get a lion's share of funding in the initial outlay...


15 posted on 04/23/2010 11:31:47 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: a fool in paradise

We call it the Chatahoochee Choo Choo. Anyone who is for this insane idea should be given a padded cell in Chatahoochee.


16 posted on 04/23/2010 11:32:42 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (i)
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To: Willie Green
OK... Who has that Simpsons graphic handy?
17 posted on 04/23/2010 11:33:06 AM PDT by Redcloak (What's your zombie plan?)
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To: alexander_busek

Security on a plane ensures that once the plane is airborne, there is little that someone can do to interfere with the flight.

But a saboteur can attack the rails at any stage of the journey or even launch a missile at the train.


18 posted on 04/23/2010 11:33:10 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: Willie Green
Even the fastest trains will never approach the efficiency of an airplane for a cross-country trip, of course.

Of course.

19 posted on 04/23/2010 11:33:43 AM PDT by DManA
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To: Willie Green
Tampa to Orlando will take less than an hour, or 35 percent faster than by car.

Ludicrous. Unless you live within a short walking distance to the Tampa train station and your destination in Orlando is close to that train station, you still have to get to the train and from the train to your destination by some means. That makes this statement completely irrelevant.

20 posted on 04/23/2010 11:34:18 AM PDT by dirtboy
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