Posted on 07/09/2010 5:35:47 AM PDT by Leisler
CHINA - Sales of high-speed rail tickets between Shanghai and Nanjing will be suspended indefinitely from Saturday - just days after the multibillion-yuan link was launched amid a blaze of propaganda.
Rail authorities say the indefinite suspension will allow them to "optimise" the service. But the move appears to have been prompted by poor demand amid complaints about high ticket prices for a negligible saving in trip time......
The less-than-enthusiastic welcome to high-speed rail travel in the affluent Yangtze River Delta bodes ominously for the service's future nationwide, with links being constructed between major cities throughout the country.
It also calls into question feasibility studies carried out before the high-profile project was given the green light.
(Excerpt) Read more at masstransitmag.com ...
Socialism. China. The US. Same same.
Willie ? Oh, Willie ?
Another triumph of pubic transit on display. And you want to inflict it on us, too ?
Willie...you missed this one apparently!
Maybe Willlie hasn’t heard of the Internet?
HIGH SPEED RAIL
Learning From Service Start-ups, Prospects for Increased Industry Investment, and Federal Oversight Plans. United States Government Accountability Office
Report to Congressional Committees.
(the GAO report arguing that federal high-speed rail plans were hastily drawn up and not well thought out. Unfortunately, the GAO mainly looked at high-speed rail as a part of the stimulus package and not on their own merits.( well, the GAO paychecks come in every two weeks too, so you can’t expect everything.))
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10625.pdf
If you build it, they won’t necessarily come.
These are gov junkie fashion of the day. To day High Speed Rail, yesterday, modern public housing projects.
The important thing is that a few groups have their wants satisfied.
Do Gooder Dreamers/Socialist get to play, and feel important.
Politicians get credit, before the bills come in.
Contractors get rich.
Unions get wages.
Some are found to utilize the boondoggle, and in the case of trains or pubic housing are near nigh paid to use it.
The what, and why, and perpetual costs are just details.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.