Commuter/High Speed Rail (Atlanta, Savannah: contractor, paid, county)

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Savannah via the state legislature is interested is connecting directly to Atlanta by passenger rail again: Legislators want to explore reviving the Nancy Hanks Passenger Rail Line

Interesting but for any form of rail to support 200 MPH trains, all sorts of upgrades would be necessary. They would practically have to rebuild the entire route. No at-grade crossings, curves normal freight and passenger trains can go through, high speed trains will derail. I'm not even sure if they use the same grade of steel either.

[MattCW]

There is no way 200mph would exist on any existing rail route. Any true HSR would achieve those speeds only on newly-built right of way outside cities. For Atlanta-Savannah, the best RoW would be along I-16. Macon to Atlanta would probably head toward I-85 to serve the airport.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by MattCW

There is no way 200mph would exist on any existing rail route. Any true HSR would achieve those speeds only on newly-built right of way outside cities. For Atlanta-Savannah, the best RoW would be along I-16. Macon to Atlanta would probably head toward I-85 to serve the airport.

How much would the Chinese charge to run a HSR line between Atlanta and Savannah? I bet they could do it in less than a year.

[MattCW]

And meet our labor and safety standards? I doubt it.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Savannah via the state legislature is interested is connecting directly to Atlanta by passenger rail again: Legislators want to explore reviving the Nancy Hanks Passenger Rail Line

That would be a wonderful thing!

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Savannah via the state legislature is interested is connecting directly to Atlanta by passenger rail again: Legislators want to explore reviving the Nancy Hanks Passenger Rail Line

It's hard to believe that line last ran less than 50 years ago. Would the new line still have the same name? Do the tracks still exist, and who uses them (CSX, Norfolk Southern, etc.)? I'm guessing it's used for the cargo from the Port of Savannah?

[MattCW]

The entire route is Norfolk Southern. The Nancy Hanks II was Atlanta-Griffin-Barnesville-Macon-Tennile-Millen-Savannah (I skipped a few). They are used for whatever freight NS runs on them, including intermodal service to and from Savannah. If this were to be run with conventional equipment on conventional tracks on the same route, a backup move, or orbiting Macon may be required as there is currently no direct connection from the Griffin line tracks to the Savannah tracks, though it appears some of the RoW of that connection is still intact (curves SW-NE in the block bounded by 5th st, Hazel st, MLK Blvd, Ash st. in Macon). But given how far away from I-16 the tracks get, I question a conventional-speed train's usefulness compared to bus service down I-16.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by arjay57

How much would the Chinese charge to run a HSR line between Atlanta and Savannah? I bet they could do it in less than a year.

You're right. As long as they imported very-low-paid Chinese workers and we let them off the hook for any sort of labor protections.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by MattCW

And meet our labor and safety standards? I doubt it.

They've talked about Mexico City to Monterrey to Laredo to San Antonio to Ft. Worth. (the Chinese were going to finance the Mexican part, although there was some scandal in Mexico)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

How much would the Chinese charge to run a HSR line between Atlanta and Savannah? I bet they could do it in less than a year.

How many worker deaths are you willing to accept?