Replies

This isn't a plane where everybody gets on at one end and gets off at the other. There are people traveling in the other direction as well. PLUS you have to add-in all the people getting on-off at all the stops in between.

I looked at the map. There ain't a whole lot worth stopping at between Chattanooga and Atlanta. I have seen too many El trains in Chicago travelling against traffic nearly empty, during rush hour, to believe that you can balance the load.

Since it's only a 120 mile trip anyway, there just aren't a lot of people who are in between who will take the train rather than their own car. If you DO have numerous stops, there goes your speed advantage with maglev. Here in Northern Illinois, they are talking about reviving the Amtrak line. Every mid-size town on the proposed route wants a stop. If they all got their way, the 80 mile trip to Chicago winds up taking over two hours... and that's for Amtrak, not even a commuter train.

The planes, at least would have the ability to pick any destination within range with a suitable airport for return trips. The Maglev will be forever bound between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Atlanta -- Charlotte would make a bit more sense. In this country the sweet spot for trains is between 200 and 500 miles. But it has to be between cities that have traffic going both ways (e.g. LA and Las Vegas).

Since it's only a 120 mile trip anyway, there just aren't a lot of people who are in between who will take the train rather than their own car. If you DO have numerous stops, there goes your speed advantage with maglev. Here in Northern Illinois, they are talking about reviving the Amtrak line. Every mid-size town on the proposed route wants a stop. If they all got their way, the 80 mile trip to Chicago winds up taking over two hours... and that's for Amtrak, not even a commuter train.

I routinely travel through Atlanta from just north of Chattanooga. If I leave early (0430 hrs) to beat the morning rush, I can be at the south end of Atlanta in 2 hours travelling by car.

A high-speed train that would leave from near the Chattanooga airport and travel to the Atlanta airport region might be able to make the trip in 1 hour if it were non-stop and travelling at 120 mph. Add in the time to get from home to the 'nooga airport and get on board, and add in the time to get off the train and travel to a given destination in Atlanta and you're already at at least 2 hours. And, without your car.

This represents a collosal waste of money.