:rofl: got phished while looking for a rideshare
Wannabe yuppie
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,918
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From: Madison, WI
On the Nov 08 ballot, there will be a bond measure to build a high-speed rail network for CA, with the expectation of expanding north to OR and WA.
SF-Sacto-LA would be the first phase of construction. The bond would finance a new high-speed rail section down the central valley and the purchase of new trains.
Do your homework. :run:
SF-Sacto-LA would be the first phase of construction. The bond would finance a new high-speed rail section down the central valley and the purchase of new trains.
Do your homework. :run:
High speed trains in most countries other than the US had new tracks built for them, that were specially designed for high speeds (think the Shinkansen a.k.a. "bullet train" in Japan, TGV in France, etc). Conversely, the Acela high-speed service that goes from DC up through Boston runs on the same old Northeast Corridor tracks.
Acela can go as fast as 150 mph, and the triansets tilt in the turns to minimize the g forces felt by passengers, but it still has to slow down considerably for a lot of the turns because they're too tight to take at full speeds.
The slower Regional trains (they top out at about 70 mph) also run on the same tracks. The Acela trains only have the opportunity to pass the Regional trains in certain places where passing tracks exist.
What it all boils down to is DC to Philly on Regional takes 1:55, Acela only gets it down to 1:30. DC to NYC takes 3:25 on Regional and 2:45 on Acela. Acela tickets cost twice as much. If you've got the cash to blow and need to make your trip quicker, Acela is a nice convenience. Most people who take it usually aren't paying for their trip.
Moral of the story: high speed rail lines need new high speed tracks to offer a real improvement for the masses.
Oh and for some perspective, it's about 225 miles from DC to NYC; SF to LA is like 380 miles. Yeah yeah, it's 440 miles from DC to Boston, but nobody gives a shit about Boston anyway.
h:
Last edited by MrFatbooty; Apr 9, 2007 at 07:02 PM.
Apathy Kills
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 60,714
Likes: 0
From: The Left Lane
Yes and yes.
I'll find more details this week, but logic dictates that they'll use the existing passenger rail lines going into each terminal city. They may upgrade the trackbed for a smoother ride, but noise is a concern as well as safety at the grade-level crossings for road traffic.
So the approach to SF or LA will be limited to a reasonable speed.. say 60 mph.
But for the majority of the run, they will lay have to lay new track down the central valley... so figure on 300+ miles of high-speed rail with a top speed around 150mph.
To put it all in perspective, a road trip from LA to SF takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic. A commuter flight takes about 3 hours if you count time to / from the airport plus all the security BS.
If high-speed rail can get the job done in half the time of driving for half the price of a plane ticket, I'm there. Doubly so if they can carry autos.h:
I'll find more details this week, but logic dictates that they'll use the existing passenger rail lines going into each terminal city. They may upgrade the trackbed for a smoother ride, but noise is a concern as well as safety at the grade-level crossings for road traffic.
So the approach to SF or LA will be limited to a reasonable speed.. say 60 mph.
But for the majority of the run, they will lay have to lay new track down the central valley... so figure on 300+ miles of high-speed rail with a top speed around 150mph.
To put it all in perspective, a road trip from LA to SF takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic. A commuter flight takes about 3 hours if you count time to / from the airport plus all the security BS.
If high-speed rail can get the job done in half the time of driving for half the price of a plane ticket, I'm there. Doubly so if they can carry autos.
h:
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Wannabe yuppie
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,918
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From: Madison, WI
My grandparents used to take the Auto Train from DC down to Florida when they kept a condo down around Ft Lauderdale.
Amtrak don't do that from the big inner-city stations, and they charge ya extra.
Amtrak don't do that from the big inner-city stations, and they charge ya extra.
bboy Wesley West
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,390
Likes: 0
From: six-five-o
Yes and yes.
I'll find more details this week, but logic dictates that they'll use the existing passenger rail lines going into each terminal city. They may upgrade the trackbed for a smoother ride, but noise is a concern as well as safety at the grade-level crossings for road traffic.
So the approach to SF or LA will be limited to a reasonable speed.. say 60 mph.
But for the majority of the run, they will lay have to lay new track down the central valley... so figure on 300+ miles of high-speed rail with a top speed around 150mph.
To put it all in perspective, a road trip from LA to SF takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic. A commuter flight takes about 3 hours if you count time to / from the airport plus all the security BS.
If high-speed rail can get the job done in half the time of driving for half the price of a plane ticket, I'm there. Doubly so if they can carry autos.h:
I'll find more details this week, but logic dictates that they'll use the existing passenger rail lines going into each terminal city. They may upgrade the trackbed for a smoother ride, but noise is a concern as well as safety at the grade-level crossings for road traffic.
So the approach to SF or LA will be limited to a reasonable speed.. say 60 mph.
But for the majority of the run, they will lay have to lay new track down the central valley... so figure on 300+ miles of high-speed rail with a top speed around 150mph.
To put it all in perspective, a road trip from LA to SF takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic. A commuter flight takes about 3 hours if you count time to / from the airport plus all the security BS.
If high-speed rail can get the job done in half the time of driving for half the price of a plane ticket, I'm there. Doubly so if they can carry autos.
h:
Apathy Kills
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 60,714
Likes: 0
From: The Left Lane
http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/route/default.asp
I should've googled earlier.
There's a ton of information available already.h:
I should've googled earlier.
There's a ton of information available already.
h:
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