[eventusstultorummagister]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

I don't think they care. They're building it, and that's that.

Just think of all the Las Vegans who are sitting at home, thinking, "Boy, I'd sure love to go to Palmdale. If ONLY there was a way to get there!"

And color me surprised if they get to Victorville and there's still money left over to go someplace useful. I'll wager a C-note that the train goes from here to Victorville, and the whole project dies from lack of interest.

There going to move LAX to Palmdale, problem solved!

[tijlover]

Choose! Spend the $5.5 billion on a continuing, never-ending war in the Middle East, continue to give some ongoing job security to the military and their suppliers, and add in the health care costs of our returning soldiers, or, spend it on this potential boondoggle!

Which boondoggle?

If you tell Washington: Keep that $$, we don't want it!, some other bureaucracy will grab it!

I say: Grab it!

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by logline

I'll gladly take that bet. It may take years to collect though.

By the way, the article clearly states that Palmdale is where you connect to the Metrolink system which goes to the rest of L.A.

You always seem to reframe the argument when it comes to this train, Scoop. First you said it would never happen at all.

Guess what... it's already happening.

Re-read. I said I didn't want it to happen if it terminated in Victorville. Also, 130 miles of track linking two minor towns in central California isn't a high-speed rail system. So far, the immediate plan is to link Las Vegas and Victorville; and to link Madera and Bakersfield. Everything else is "a future phase." Also, the whole thing is being financed by Goldman Sachs, which should scare the hell out of people.

I'll take the bet. And I'm certainly good for the hunskie if you win. But I won't pay until there is a high-speed rail connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco, and a high-speed rail connecting Las Vegas with any point on the California high speed line.

I'm certain that they will START this project. But I'm basically certain that they aren't going to finish it. We'll end up with "tracks to nowhere" and trains that almost nobody uses because they don't link major population centers.

And as soon as the project peters out from lack of funding and interest, I'll expect a C-note from you.

Deal?

[jamies]

Total waste of tax money, as usual. Who is going to ride this? Not me - why would I drive in heavy traffic up the Cajon Pass just to leave my car in Victorville to be stripped while I'm gone, and then have to RENT a car in Vegas, AFTER waiting an hour for a train and then WASTING an hour getting a rental - when I can just DRIVE there from Victorville in 2 hours - and for less money!

Don't even get me started on the train from nowhere to no place in the central valley.

The bottom line is anybody involved with government at any level is an idiot, a moron, and a thief - and if this doesn't prove it I don't know what does.

[ScoopLV]

Heh.

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain

When the Florida Keys built the overseas highway on the wreckage of the overseas railroad, every homeowner in Monroe County MORTGAGED THEIR HOUSE to back the bond they floated for the project. That project succeeded because everyone was on board.

Do you see anything approaching that level of commitment for this project?

And keep in mind, I LOVE traveling by train. It is my 2nd-favorite way to get from point A to point B. (The best way, of course, is via sailboat.) If there is a high speed railroad that links Las Vegas and San Francisco, I'll use it four or five times each year -- provided it truly is high speed. I would rather spend five hours on a train than two hours in an airplane.

But I've seen this kind of project play out time and time again with the same result. They'll lay some track linking illogical destinations. The system won't get any use for a year. And then it will be swept under the rug with only a handful of "robber barons" making out like bandits. Same ol', same ol'. They are setting this up to fail. Mark my words.

I will be very happy if I am proven wrong on this one. But I seriously doubt it.

[macgeek]

Just so we have a bit more respect for the money we are talking about
Here is a LINK to what ONE TRILLION Dollars looks like.

Jonathan

[eventusstultorummagister]

Victorville is a thriving metropolis and the perfect site for a transportation hub...

[gulfer]

But it has a NICE BIG PARKING LOT!!! Great picture!! Wait until the taxpayer has to foot the bill for the train to continue once the Federal Funds dry up. My bet is they end up trying to charge the casino's!

[EclecticEars]

Victorville is a dump. I've been there.

Look, if they're going to build it, the feds need to allocate the funding for the project to go "all out." By "all out," I simply mean from either the Strip or McCarran (which is practically on the Strip) in Las Vegas to Union Station in Downtown L.A.

This project will really be disadvantageous for Nevada residents because, let's face it, why would you rent a car in Victorville? Or, who in the rest of Greater L.A. will want to drive to Victorville to pick you up? And Californians will rightfully argue that for as expensive as the train and train rides will be, they might as well just drive the whole length of the 15 to Vegas.

I WANT high-speed rail in the U.S. and think that (1) Atlanta to Portland, ME, (2) Chicago to Minneapolis, (3) L.A. to Las Vegas, and (4) San Diego to SF, Oakland and Sacramento should be the priority corridors. However, this needs to be done Japanese-style: government regulations in effect but operated by for-profit companies. Because we see just how good gubmint wurks...

[irishspy]

Here is a new twist to this saga. Las Vegas is now improving at least on the gambling side because of the influx of foreign tourist (another thread on the form proves this). With that said this will not last forever because many of the rich tourist come in from the far east. The next largest market is LA. The rest of the country is at the mercy of the airlines and the cost to fly to LV which seems to be rising all of the time. You know the price of gas is going to rise again so now the train (express) is starting to make sense. Today present conditions it seems like a far fetch dream. Start connecting the dots this train will be linked to the one from SF to LA and so forth. Has something like this worked else where YES a train from Portland ME to Boston MA is running it is about 1 and 1/2 hr ride. You would be amazed ho many folks use this for work and play. When it was first purposed everyone thought it was crazy also. So think 5 years down the road or further it may make sense then.