[logline]

California High Speed Rail Blog » DesertXpress To Land Multi-Billion Federal Loan?

It makes sense that this train would link up with the CA high speed rail plan that links L.A. to S.F. Then it would be a network linking all major west coast cities... like France, China, etc.

[ScoopLV]

I can never support this project if they're going to terminate at Victorville. Plans to "maybe someday extend to the LA-SF rail line" will NEVER, EVER, EVER happen. And we'll be stuck with a multi-billion-dollar boondoggle whose main purpose was enriching the Reid family.

Send the train to Palmdale (or even better, Anaheim), or don't bother.

[Ulysses373]

Looking at their proposed lines, I'm wondering why they wouldn't connect Riverside to Victorville with a highspeed line. It shows an amtrak line going there now, but if it were made all highspeed, wouldn't it reduce some of the perceived problems that the Vegas line sort of stops in the middle of nowhere? Maybe they can't make the necessary upgrades to the line through San Bernadino.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Ulysses373

Looking at their proposed lines, I'm wondering why they wouldn't connect Riverside to Victorville with a highspeed line. It shows an amtrak line going there now, but if it were made all highspeed, wouldn't it reduce some of the perceived problems that the Vegas line sort of stops in the middle of nowhere? Maybe they can't make the necessary upgrades to the line through San Bernadino.

Whatever they do, they need to get the train closer to I-5. Otherwise, nobody will bother to use the train. They're already in their car, the worst of the traffic is behind them, may as well just drive another two hours. Why buy a ticket?

Building this line to Victorville is almost as dumb as building a monorail in Las Vegas and not terminating it at the airport.

[logline]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

I can never support this project if they're going to terminate at Victorville. Plans to "maybe someday extend to the LA-SF rail line" will NEVER, EVER, EVER happen. And we'll be stuck with a multi-billion-dollar boondoggle whose main purpose was enriching the Reid family.

Send the train to Palmdale (or even better, Anaheim), or don't bother.

You didn't read the post. There is already talk of extending it to Anaheim and/or Palmdale. That would be the logical next step since having 2 HSR systems so close to each other (and not connected) makes no sense at all.

Having a station in Barstow with a connector to the HSR station in Palmdale cannot really be that difficult (flat, straight, no major cities/easements), so why are you saying it will "NEVER, EVER, EVER happen"?? Heck there is ALREADY a well established rail line right there along the 58 freeway connecting the 14 to the 15 (I take that route all the time).

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by logline

You didn't read the post. There is already talk of extending it to Anaheim and/or Palmdale. That would be the logical next step since having 2 HSR systems so close to each other (and not connected) makes no sense at all.

Having a station in Barstow with a connector to the HSR station in Palmdale cannot really be that difficult (flat, straight, no major cities/easements), so why are you saying it will "NEVER, EVER, EVER happen"?? Heck there is ALREADY a well established rail line right there along the 58 freeway connecting the 14 to the 15 (I take that route all the time).

I'm saying that if it isn't constructed from the get go, it will never be constructed. People won't use a rail line that terminates in Victorville. So there won't be any support in the future for spending more money on a rail line that nobody uses.

No matter what, that loan will never be paid back. Let's just call it a subsidy, because the train isn't going to generate enough profit -- even if it terminates someplace reasonable. I don't mind spending $5 billion on infrastructure. But it has to be $5B well spent. Calling it a subsidy would also lower ticket prices to the point where people might actually use the train instead of driving. Most people are going to drive anyway, because they want a car in Las Vegas. And driving their car is cheaper than taxis or renting.

Personally, I'd still like to see the thing built. I'd actually use it -- if it connects to the LA/SF high speed line. And that's a big if. And fares would have to be lower than flying. And that's another big if. I can fly to San Francisco, round trip on Spirit for less than $100. While I really enjoy traveling by train, I'm not going to if it's both longer and considerably more expensive than flying.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by logline

You didn't read the post. There is already talk of extending it to Anaheim and/or Palmdale. That would be the logical next step since having 2 HSR systems so close to each other (and not connected) makes no sense at all.

Having a station in Barstow with a connector to the HSR station in Palmdale cannot really be that difficult (flat, straight, no major cities/easements), so why are you saying it will "NEVER, EVER, EVER happen"?? Heck there is ALREADY a well established rail line right there along the 58 freeway connecting the 14 to the 15 (I take that route all the time).

Just like the LV Monorail that was "supposed" to run from the airport all the way down town.....


this has Scary Harry's fingerprints ALL over it.

[Golfinnova]

+1000 Scoop. This is nothing more than ole Harry filling his pockets on the taxpayers dime.

I agree 100% that if the route went from here to Anaheim, it would be a slam dunk but Victorville??? The train station there is in north Victorville still miles away from Cajon Pass let alone Ontario and other points en route to L.A.

Pure and simple, this is the monorail on a much grander scale.

[Buzz123]

Harry Reid has become a millionaire by never holding a job. This is an example of how he did it.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Golfinnova

I agree 100% that if the route went from here to Anaheim, it would be a slam dunk but Victorville??? The train station there is in north Victorville still miles away from Cajon Pass let alone Ontario and other points en route to L.A.

Pure and simple, this is the monorail on a much grander scale.

Going to Anaheim would also mean two way traffic -- Las Vegans want to go to Disneyland. Californians want to go to Las Vegas. NOBODY wants to go to Victorville.

We're going to regret this project if it isn't done right the first time. We MAY even regret it anyway. There's a very good chance that this will end up like the monorail -- with no passengers and high operating costs. In that case, taxpayers will end up picking up the tab.