>350 mph
Posted on 08/08/2010 5:59:18 AM PDT by Willie Green
I love the train network in Europe. Its fast, easy, economical, and reliable. I would love it if we had something similar. I just don’t want my taxes to pay for it.
Spain spent $1 Trillion for their fancy train system. How big is that country?
Plus we are too spread out...
Sorry but trains do not work here for the simple reason of geography. We are too big to make trains effective forms of transportation
>350 mph
***Sorry but trains do not work here for the simple reason of geography. We are too big to make trains effective forms of transportation.****
That is so true and why I refuse to drive a car, take a plane or a bus more than 200 miles. (satire)
Interesting article - thanks for posting. I, too, love travelling by train in Europe. Both the French and Spanish high-speed rail systems are a pleasure to use.
Exactly nationally but they could be made to work on a regional basis in some areas. I’d love to see it but again i’d never pay for it.
How big is that country?
The question is how broke is that country?
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Spain-downgraded-as-Europe-apf-1816859080.html?x=0
Though Spain’s overall debt burden is fairly modest at around 53 percent of national income — compared to 115 percent for Greece — the country is running a big budget deficit and has done less than others to get a handle on its public finances.
European trains are highly subsidized by taxes. They are very expensive modes of transportation compared to air and car.
Much easier to get off the subway at National airport and fly directly to JFK.
Catch what I just did? I am already on a rail system ~ 1 mile from my front porch to the platform at the Metro. The airport is on the same line. And I want to go to JFK, not some other place in New York Metro ~
Last thing I'd do is take the train to New York no matter how fast it was.
The Serbian woman I used to date thought American car culture was foolish and wastefull till she moved to America.
She drives an SUV now.
Maybe it comes included with the failed socialist utopia we’re importing for only a minimum extra charge.
...I won’t ride on a train doing 186 mph....I’ve seen too many cars and trucks try to race a train to the crossing...or ignore RR crossing signals because they don’t want to wait a few minutes.
How much will it cost, Willie? Even this article says it takes tax dollars to deploy, and even then only SOME of the lines cover their costs (meaning that NONE of them EVER recoup the initial spending).
So how much, Willie? Two trillion? Three trillion? Four trillion? How much?
Trains are fixed route transportation, just not very flexible in adopting to changing circumstances.
Adding new stations and routes, and eliminating outdated ones just sends the ongoing costs through the roof in a growing nation.
Now if America could get committed to a zero-growth policy,perhaps a resurrection of rail could be considered.
Ever ridden on a train for more then 200 miles? Try it some time, then we will chat again. Trains are even worse for long distance travel then the bus.
Commercial air travel used to be great when one could act like OJ in the ads, toss the rental car keys to the rental car desk and run through the airport to get to the plane door just as it was closing, then buy your ticket on the plane (Eastern Air Shuttle).
You are right on target
I wouldn’t reply because Willie doesn’t acknowledge the error of his dreams, but I did read the inquirer this AM.
Cost is very high to get hi speed rail within 30mi of all. Can you imagine that here?! The Spanish govt is spending themselves bankrupt(well that part is familiar).
Security issues aren’t addressed. Isit easier to plant an explosive into a plane or anywhere on thousands of miles of track? The article states there have been no deaths on these trains. Ignoring Chunnel mishaps and bombing last year on Spanish train.
Control of the people is the goal.
Oh yeah - the weather....186mph in a snowstorm, sure!
lots of ‘free’ tixs those days[but who cares, its not the trains money]
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