Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Closed Thread Start New Thread
 
Old 11-17-2008, 07:27 PM
 
445 posts, read 1,344,158 times
Reputation: 431

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by supernerdgirl View Post
god forbid some of us don't want to fly or drive everywhere.
Yeah, because that's what I was saying...

To suggest that one should be able to board a train in any given US city and from there, take a non-stop train to any other US city is what's totally delusional. The infrastructural requirements for something like that would be 100% unmanageable, not to mention impossibly expensive.... And just to preemptivley cut off what's a certainty to come (because it's impossible to examine the cost of left-leaning fantasy projects where they won't rationalize the associated outlay as a matter relative to Iraq war expenditure); yes, yes, I know how much the war in Iraq costs, but we aren't talking about the costs associated with the War in Iraq. A project like Cooly is suggesting would cost drastically more than that, not to mention the cost-to-benefit ratio would be almost entirely slanted towards cost...

Thus, the "childishly unrealistic" remark. Much like how children might suggest that we invent flying cars that run on sunbeams and saltwater, what he/she suggested is entirely in the realm of fantasy, yet people actually believe that we should waste our time 'looking into' such fluff.

I'm a huge public transit proponent and utilize it extensively myself, but 'playing pretend' is counterproductive and a retrograding force that detracts away from the legitimacy of projects that are realistic and do'able.

 
Old 11-17-2008, 07:31 PM
 
3,631 posts, read 10,233,408 times
Reputation: 2039
Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1 View Post
Yeah, because that's what I was saying...

To suggest that one should be able to board a train in any given US city and from there, take a non-stop train to any other US city is what's totally delusional. The infrastructural requirements for something like that would be 100% unmanageable, not to mention impossibly expensive.... And just to preemptivley cut off what's a certainty to come; yes, yes, I know how much the war in Iraq costs, but we aren't talking about the costs associated with the War in Iraq. A project like Cooly is suggesting would cost drastically more than that, not to mention the cost-to-benefit ratio would be almost entirely slanted towards cost...

Thus, the "childishly unrealistic" remark. Much like how children might suggest that we invent flying cars that run on sunbeams and saltwater, what he/she suggested is entirely in the realm of fantasy, yet people actually believe that we should waste our time 'looking into' such fluff.
ok i guess i didn't read the whole thing, but to tell the truth i am really unhappy that i have to rent a car to drive down south for Christmas because i refuse to fly anymore. it would be wonderful to take a train to Nashville...
 
Old 11-17-2008, 07:37 PM
 
Location: Chicago - Logan Square
3,396 posts, read 7,210,152 times
Reputation: 3731
Quote:
Originally Posted by coolyfett View Post
One of the most important agendas in my book, people should be able to get around without using a car all the time. I should be able to walk to my local train station, connect to the train station that connects to Amtrak and go to any major city in the US I want. If I want to go from Chi to Sea...it should be strait shots. I shouldn't have to go to New Orleans to go to Seattle, know what I mean. Makes traveling a hassle unless you use planes.
Yeah - I have to agree that trains are more of a regional transportation solution and not a cross country solution. High speed rail From Chicago to Indy, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Detroit, etc. makes sense. Transferring at somewhere like Pittsburgh to get to NYC via rail makes sense - but even at the short distance to NYC flying makes a lot more sense than even high speed rail.

BTW - The Empire Builder goes straight through from Chicago to Seattle (or Portland with one transfer at Spokane). I'm not sure why you would go through New Orleans.
 
Old 11-17-2008, 10:13 PM
 
Location: Chicago
15,586 posts, read 27,606,786 times
Reputation: 1761
Quote:
Originally Posted by supernerdgirl View Post
...to tell the truth i am really unhappy that i have to rent a car to drive down south for Christmas because i refuse to fly anymore. it would be wonderful to take a train to Nashville...
Well you could take a bus. I thought you hate Tennessee? Make whomever you are going to visit come here.

I am just playing around. Do not take it personal.
 
Old 11-17-2008, 10:49 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,166,939 times
Reputation: 29983
Quote:
Originally Posted by supernerdgirl View Post
ok i guess i didn't read the whole thing, but to tell the truth i am really unhappy that i have to rent a car to drive down south for Christmas because i refuse to fly anymore. it would be wonderful to take a train to Nashville...
So basically.... you're unhappy on account of your own refusal. I'm not sure creating a redundant transportation infrastructure to accommodate your unhappiness and refusal is a wise use of resources. As big as our country is and as spread out as our metropolitan centers -- particularly west of the Mississippi -- air travel will be far, far more cost-effective way to connect distant cities and regions for the foreseeable future. Trains make sense in dense corridors like Boston-NYC-Philly-Baltimore-Washington, or maybe SD-LA-SF... but crisscrossing the entire continent with rail lines isn't practical. So unfortunately you'll either need to get with the program or drive a car.
 
Old 11-17-2008, 11:01 PM
 
11,975 posts, read 31,786,761 times
Reputation: 4644
Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1 View Post
To suggest that one should be able to board a train in any given US city and from there, take a non-stop train to any other US city is what's totally delusional.
Sure. But with stops only in major cities along the way it should be possible. Europe has it's inter-city express trains that are pretty efficient.

The way I see passenger rail transportation evolving in the post-automobile world is that regional systems will be developed independently, and then connected to each other. The Northeast corridor is already pretty well-served. High-speed rail in the Midwest could connect our major cities. The Southeast and West Coast would develop independently, and then the resulting networks would be connected.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1 View Post
A project like Cooly is suggesting would cost drastically more than that, not to mention the cost-to-benefit ratio would be almost entirely slanted towards cost...
Umm, like the Federal highway system? It's actually quite a bit more cost-efficient to let our interstates crumble and develop rail.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1 View Post
I'm a huge public transit proponent and utilize it extensively myself, but 'playing pretend' is counterproductive and a retrograding force that detracts away from the legitimacy of projects that are realistic and do'able.
"Playing pretend" got us to the moon, and has been responsible for the lion's share of innovation in the last century. You're being condescending, not rational.
 
Old 11-17-2008, 11:05 PM
 
11,975 posts, read 31,786,761 times
Reputation: 4644
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
As big as our country is and as spread out as our metropolitan centers -- particularly west of the Mississippi -- air travel will be far, far more cost-effective way to connect distant cities and regions for the foreseeable future.
Not necessarily. There are ominous signs for the airline industry that hint that air travel will be an exclusive affair in the future. Rail corridors connecting distant cities in the U.S. exist already. This "future of fantasy" was realized in the freakin' 19th century! Non-stop travel may not be feasible between distant cities, but inter-city express trains are surely an option that has been tested in the distant past!
 
Old 11-18-2008, 08:49 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,633,093 times
Reputation: 1811
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lookout Kid View Post
Not necessarily. There are ominous signs for the airline industry that hint that air travel will be an exclusive affair in the future. Rail corridors connecting distant cities in the U.S. exist already. This "future of fantasy" was realized in the freakin' 19th century! Non-stop travel may not be feasible between distant cities, but inter-city express trains are surely an option that has been tested in the distant past!
Amen. And I think its ridiculous that we live in the 21st century and the fastest our intercity trains can go is is what..80 mph? Thats the same speed we were at in the 1930's with the Zephyr. Japan is rolling out a line that will be over 200mph by 2010. Germany hits 180. France has maxed out at 370 on some test runs.

We are in the dark ages people, and getting woefully left behind.
 
Old 11-18-2008, 09:00 AM
 
3,631 posts, read 10,233,408 times
Reputation: 2039
Quote:
Originally Posted by Avengerfire View Post
Well you could take a bus. I thought you hate Tennessee? Make whomever you are going to visit come here.

I am just playing around. Do not take it personal.
i do hate it. i'm pretty much driving down there on Xmas eve, turning around and coming back the day after Xmas. i've tried like hell to get them to come up here but they're all "omg what if the weather's bad!" i'm not doing it next year.

Drover, i wasn't asking for a non-stop trip on amtrak to LA. i would like to go to Nashville. 560 miles away, which could be done in 3-4 hours if we had decent high speed rail. Yes, Amtrak will go to Memphis and Birmingham, but those are both inconvenient and expensive to where I am going. but yes, i am unhappy because i refuse to take a plane, waste hours of my life sitting in o'hare or midway, and wind up getting a severe sinus infection after flying (which always ALWAYS happens after I fly).

but thanks for the condescension this morning, i needed it!
 
Old 11-18-2008, 09:27 AM
 
Location: Chicago
4,688 posts, read 10,105,114 times
Reputation: 3207
Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerPlayer1 View Post
And just to preemptivley cut off what's a certainty to come (because it's impossible to examine the cost of left-leaning fantasy projects where they won't rationalize the associated outlay as a matter relative to Iraq war expenditure); yes, yes, I know how much the war in Iraq costs, but we aren't talking about the costs associated with the War in Iraq.
Just because you were such an ass in this post.

Iraq earmarks $3 billion for Baghdad subway - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081117/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_baghdad_subway - broken link)


But a Chicago to Nashville train, or any adequate regional transit, should forever remain a left-leaning fantasy.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Closed Thread


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago
Similar Threads
View detailed profiles of:

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:50 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top