[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

The Brightline passenger train will only change our world here in Florida and possibly the future of passenger rail in the US if it is successful.

Apparently you haven't heard of Amtrak's Acela trains which have been in operation along the Northeast Corridor since 2000, and are getting a pretty cool update soon..."On August 26, 2016, Vice President Joe Biden announced a $2.45 billion federal loan package to pay for new Acela equipment, as well as upgrades to the NEC. The loans will finance 28 train-sets that will replace the existing fleet of twenty. This will allow for hourly New York-Boston service all day and half-hourly New York-Washington service at peak hours. The new trains will be called Avelia Liberty. They will have 30% greater seating capacity, active tilt technology and could operate at 186 miles per hour (299 km/h) if infrastructure improvements were completed to allow the higher speeds. The trains will be built by Alstom in Hornell and Rochester, New York. The new trains will be phased in between 2021 and 2022, after which the current fleet is to be retired."

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

They're not even out of the shed yet and when they are the cost will be prohibitive for widespread use. 25 to 30 years from now perhaps they'll have an impact, but until then it's probably safe to say our current modes of transportation will largely remain intact. All assuming of course other technologies don't eclipse it.

Electric is already happening at the high end. Tesla model S pretty much outsells the luxury competition already. Technological innovations happen abruptly....

https://electrek.co/2017/05/26/tesls...uxury-segment/

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

They're not even out of the shed yet and when they are the cost will be prohibitive for widespread use. 25 to 30 years from now perhaps they'll have an impact, but until then it's probably safe to say our current modes of transportation will largely remain intact. All assuming of course other technologies don't eclipse it.

Actually it is the other way around. For use on trucks and buses autonomous is very inexpensive. So once under reasonable control it spreads like wildfire.

Propulsion is still an issue. Batteries may not be there yet. But natural gas propelled may do it.

[Exus]

beautiful, love progress, backwards FL's West Coast will never see any progress...

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Electric is already happening at the high end. Tesla model S pretty much outsells the luxury competition already. Technological innovations happen abruptly....

https://electrek.co/2017/05/26/tesls...uxury-segment/

Electric has been happening for awhile and if you recall was "a thing" about 12 years ago until oil industry interests and General Motors killed off the concept and subsequent research/development. Tesla is only producing 80K units a year and struggling to keep up, not to mention the unapproachable for most 100K+ price tag. To suggest the industry is going to go mainstream, high-production and affordable for most in the upcoming several years is to most at best a pipe dream.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by lvmensch

Actually it is the other way around. For use on trucks and buses autonomous is very inexpensive. So once under reasonable control it spreads like wildfire.

Propulsion is still an issue. Batteries may not be there yet. But natural gas propelled may do it.

Again, conjecture. Natural gas-propelled seems most realistic given the increased usage and emissions-free perk. It's worth remembering that in a country that now functions as an oligarchy versus a democracy, which technologies move forward aren't about all of the societal/global benefits, rather those to the bottom line of the varying corporations. In other words what is still overwhelmingly a fossil-fuel economy, I wouldn't expect the vast improvement in alternative energy you're suggesting.

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Again, conjecture. Natural gas-propelled seems most realistic given the increased usage and emissions-free perk. It's worth remembering that in a country that now functions as an oligarchy versus a democracy, which technologies move forward aren't about all of the societal/global benefits, rather those to the bottom line of the varying corporations. In other words what is still overwhelmingly a fossil-fuel economy, I wouldn't expect the vast improvement in alternative energy you're suggesting.

I am not suggesting vast changes in propulsion. But the autonomous is an absolute game changer with respect to public transit. You simply replace trains with lines of buses. Call it the jitney revolution. For commuters you provide dedicated lanes with flow rates well higher than you can get with a RR. And you can branch anywhere in virtually any pattern to get people to their ultimate destination.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Electric has been happening for awhile and if you recall was "a thing" about 12 years ago until oil industry interests and General Motors killed off the concept and subsequent research/development. Tesla is only producing 80K units a year and struggling to keep up, not to mention the unapproachable for most 100K+ price tag. To suggest the industry is going to go mainstream, high-production and affordable for most in the upcoming several years is to most at best a pipe dream.

Chevy bolt is already out,, model 3 is coming this year, both starting at $35k before tax credits from the government.

Remember, people said Tesla could never make a long distance luxury EV in the first place, let alone take market share from the established player.

Autonomous tech is much further along than you think.., just ask someone who's got a lot of skin in the game.

[projectmaximus]

Brightline might turn out to be a game changer in the US. I wouldnt call it that for the world. HK's metro is an example of real estate driving and financing passenger trains, and to some degree many other parts of the world have had similar models and outcomes.

And I'm very excited for it, but I am far from assuming it will be a success.

[kapikap]

So much noise for 4 stops? I would be in applause if it was an actual commuter line, with 30 stops, or at least stopping in every other town along the way.

So now, leave the car, take the train, then rely an taxi/bus to the final destination.

I would love to see a full service system with ability to connect most of the state. Now thats progress!.

Jacksonville to naples? Clearwater to miami?
Or destin to ft laurderdale? That would be intresting.

We all know about the dependancy on cars, and how much hate for the busses. But lets take a cue from the major cities across the country, and figure out how to make it happen in florida.