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Currently, only one hi-speed rail line exists in the United States, the Acela which runs between Boston and D.C. Within the next 10 years or so, there may be 10 new lines, which could make the U.S. HSR network rival Europe's. I think the first one that will be completed is the California Corridor (from LA to SF), after that may be the Midwest or Southeast. The Southeast is the one I'm most looking forward to especially if I'm living back in Atlanta at the time. I would love to be able to hop on a train to Savannah rather than driving I-16.
I'd welcome any alternative to air travel and I'd love to see hi-speed rail. Flying has become such a bother. Hard to tell who is more comfortable on these flights. The passengers or the luggage.
As far as proposed routes, I've seen some that made me go "huh?". I can see the one in California. I can see connecting the major cities in Texas. I can see connecting Atlanta to Charlotte and that line making it's way up the east coast to NYC. Even the Portland/Seattle/Vancouver route has advantages. All of these routes would in various way enhance all of the other systems, give options, and benefit commuters.
I don't see why any sort of high speed rail is needed into and/or through the Macon, Georgia area or for that matter Jacksonville, Savannah, or Buffalo. So there are some fluff-lines that I'm confused about, and a few gaps that I think SHOULD be there (for instance, Dallas and Houston aren't connected (??).
Time will tell. If Obama is only a one-term President, then no doubt the next guy that comes in there will do away with 95% fo what hasn't firmly been started yet. The argument then won't matter because the only rails that will get done will be those that are started and/or contracted out. If he's a two-term President, we still won't see ALL or even most of the proposed routes get up and started, so it will be interesting to see what is given priority in such a short time to do it. My guess is that even though there are hiccups, the CA. line WILL go forward, as well as some via the NYC area. I'm not too sure Atlanta will make it - maybe.
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