Posted on 06/12/2010 5:38:41 AM PDT by Willie Green
The governor proposes that a train be set up by November, before he leaves office, to give commuters a taste of European-style fast rail travel. Skeptics say extensive upgrades must first be made.
It could be years before sections of the planned California high-speed rail project can be completed. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't want to wait that long to give the state a taste of the European-style system.
The governor has proposed to the federal government that a demonstration project be set up on the rail link between San Diego and Los Angeles, one of the busiest commuter corridors in the nation. He would like it in place by November, two months before he leaves office.
The intercity line would go much slower than the proposed 220 mph bullet train. However, transportation officials say it would probably go a bit faster than conventional trains and make the trip between San Diego and Los Angeles in 2 hours and 10 minutes — about 50 minutes faster than driving during peak travel times.
"Californians need to see and experience something that is 'high-speed-rail' sooner than 2020," Schwarzenegger wrote in his proposal, which was sent to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood earlier this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Oops, sorry, I read your “SD” as “SF”. You made an excellent point with the Frankfurt example as well.
Their citizens are accustomed to having a lot of governmental control over their lives (being told where they can go, when they can go and how they can go). Afterall, their emperor was "god" until the end of WWII.
Plus the seating was much more spacious and comfortable.
That's not the Japanese rail I've read about. They were forced to set aside special cars for women. Too many ladies complained about being groped.
Also the population of California is spread out more than in Germany...
Depends what you mean by "spread out".
I bet California's population density is actually more concentrated in the metropolitan areas of San Francisco and Southern California, than any area in Germany. And much of the rest of California is more sparsely populated than anywhere in Germany.
I'm sure Germany also has differing population densities in different regions. But not as wide a difference as in California.
Plus the seating was much more spacious and comfortable.
That’s not the Japanese rail I’ve read about. They were forced to set aside special cars for women. Too many ladies complained about being groped.
Ha ha ha ha. I will bet one million dollars that I have ridden the Bullet Train more than both of you put together
but esp you Willie!
Didja ride in First Class or Regular???
Gee, you’ll really like regular
Wher you buy a ticket only to find that today’s train is “200% capacity”.
Oh boy, you get to stand up the whole way!!!!!!!!!
And
Some unwashed very smelly “salaryman” tries out his English on you by staring at you and saying Haro Haro over and over; or a xenophobic one glares at you and says Haro Haro over and over; or a bulging gangster one inadvertently shows off his jailhouse tats.
While from behind, a drunken one vomits on you ....
Willie!
Better you than me.
And didja check the cost vs. miles travelled???? Did you try to take the family?
Perhaps a Lear jet would’ve been cheaper?
Miss your return?
Well tear up those tickets, son.
and on and on and on ...
Oh and BTW
92.7% of the women under 80 in Tokyo have been groped at one point or another in their lives on your “trains”...
“I hate trains. Could you guess?”
I was wondering what you were getting at. Actually, I think that trains are fun, but ONLY if you have the right perspective on them - which is that they are a novelty - like a carnival ride. When I go to the Northeast, I have a great time riding them - but then only because I want to...not because I have to.
I was in Germany a long time ago - heard all about the great train system in Europe. But since I had skis and needed to get places in a hurry, I rented a car. I also discovered (contrary to what had been beat into my head) that EVERYONE else there with a family drives, particularly on holiday (as they say there). That’s what I saw, TONS of BMWs and Mercedes with roof racks, going places - they were just like us.
I never did figure out what the train over there was for - maybe American tourists?
I've never ridden the Japanese train. I rode the German Strasse a few times.
I'd have ridden it more, but it didn't go directly to my destination. I had a 45+ minute wait between trains at my transfer point.
I rode with friends to/from a New Years party. A teenaged boy sitting near the front vomited something that looked like orange latex paint all over himself, his seat and the floor.
Two "yutes" were acting up and blasting out "techno-music" from a boom box. The train security stopped the train and (literally) tossed them and their boom box off the train. Unfortunately, if you tried anything like that on an American train, the ACLU would be on you like Barrack on a golf course.
My wife intended to use the train to go from our apartment in Hemsbach to a business class in downtown Mannheim. After 3 days she chose to take the car, which shaved over two hours off of her commute. Being U.S. Military forces, we could afford the gasoline. We didn't have to pay German gasoline taxes.
Wille, you should emigrate and become a European citizen. Then you could collect welfare, enjoy free healthcare and ride the train everyday! All on Other People's Money (OPM)!
How about those over 80? Do they feel left out? Shouldn't the government raise taxes in order to "fix" this problem? We need an expensive study; just give me some government grant money! I want some of Uncle Sugars milk, too!
I beg to differ...
When I was in the UK, I had to take a train to London and back to Gatwick... It was a pain in but going on the train and carrying the luggage... Then I had to get transportation to and from my hotels which I had to pay...
It is the communist job creation. Get everyone working on the rails. I wonder if that is the job terminator will apply for after this destruction ends as governor.
A friend of ours said this rail will not be convenient to get from point A to point B. He said California is not set up like Europe and people will be floundering to get their destination.
It is the Union and BCC and SEIU Andy Stern job creation. Get everyone working on the rails.
What word is stronger than “floundering” to describe it.
“Laughable” ???
LA is 125 miles top to bottom . Who would think one rail line could handle that? Even with 50 lines you still couldn’t get close to your final destination.
Like walking in 100 degree heat with your briefcase??? and then there are the natives, hiding in the bushes, waiting for you to pass by .................
... also discovered (contrary to what had been beat into my head) that EVERYONE else there with a family drives, particularly on holiday (as they say there). That’s what I saw, TONS of BMWs and Mercedes with roof racks, going places - they were just like us.
eggxactly
right.
BTW I too like carnival rides.
Let’s ask WIllie Green to get money for more of those
now that’s something I could support.
Plus the seating was much more spacious and comfortable.
That’s not the Japanese rail I’ve read about. They were forced to set aside special cars for women. Too many ladies complained about being groped.
Ha ha ha ha. I will bet one million dollars that I have ridden the Bullet Train more than both of you put together,
but esp you Willie!
Didja ride in First Class or Regular???
Gee, you’ll really like regular
Where you buy a ticket only to find that today’s train is “200% capacity”.
Oh boy, you get to stand up the whole way!!!!!!!!!
And
Some unwashed very smelly “salaryman” tries out his English on you by staring at you and saying Haro Haro over and over for hours; or a xenophobic one glares daggers at you and says Haro Haro over and over; or a bulging gangster one inadvertently shows off his jailhouse tats.
While from behind, a drunken one vomits on you ....
Willie!
Better you than me.
And didja check the cost vs. miles travelled???? Did you try to take the family?
Perhaps a Lear jet would’ve been cheaper?
Miss your return?
Well tear up those tickets, son.
and on and on and on ...
Oh and BTW
92.7% of the women under 80 in Tokyo have been groped at one point or another in their lives on your “trains”...
Chirp chirp Chirp chirp
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