First, it’s nice to see a critical article about high speed rail that doesn’t ignorantly cite the first phase of construction as a ‘train to nowhere’.
Second, while there are serious questions about the financial viability of California’s high speed rail plans it needs to be noted that Southwest Airlines is behind much of the irrational hype against high speed rail because it threatens their profits. In Texas SWA ran a PR war against Texas’ high speed rail plan.
http://austinist.com/2006/08/01/mystery_train_the_texas_highspeed_rail_that_wasnt.php
I am pointing this out so some of you here on FR are aware of this and I admonish you to make sure you’re getting the facts, not a pile of spin from yet another SWA PR war.
I was unaware of the SWA/Texas thing, but I don't think SWA or any other airline is out of bounds for objecting to publicly funded rail projects that they must compete with. Of course, airlines have had their share of government support over the years, but when was the last time the feds or a state created a new airline out of whole cloth?
Don't get me wrong: I despise flying (irrational fear has increased with age; I really don't mind the inconveniences all that much) and would much prefer a ground based alternative. But I believe viable HSR is profitable HSR, and therefore the market should make that determination.
SWA certainly had an impact, but again, that's fair game. If you're Dunkin Donuts you don't just sit idly by while Starbucks plans to loot your business across the street.
I don’t believe the much deserved criticism of California’s HSR to be “a pile of spin”, based on “irrational hype” nor “ignorant.” The first phase of construction is indeed a train from nowhere to nowhere. The project is not financially sound and I welcome all opposition, whether from SWA or other sources. In fact, I encourage more of it. Simply put, Prop1A should be repealed and the HSRA abolished.