High speed rail is profitable in Spain, Taiwan, Japan, France, et al (highway, independent)
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In many Western states, a rail system that could average a speed of 80-90 mph would be well recieved, I believe. There are vast areas of Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, N. & S. Dakota, and parts of Oregon and Washington that do not have any air service at all, and the only recourse for long distance travel is the personal automobile. The only alternative, the bus lines, have pulled out of a majority of the small towns they once served in this area.
Even in the larger towns in these states, air travel is often strange. A flight to a city 500 miles away often requires flying halfway across the country and back again to reach the final destination.
A modern, comfortable train with a regular schedule would be very profitable, especially for trips that would require an overnight stay when driving a car.
The Washington-Oregon- N. California coast would be a good run for high speed trains. The Interstates are all congested, and all have difficult and sometimes dangerous passes. Winter travel would be especially high, I think.
While the Interstates are a vital part of our economy and our national defense, so would be a modern rail system. Both our Interstate system and our airlines are vulnerable, especially since both are so gridlocked now, but a modern rail system would be both an alternative to either and may be less vulnerable, as rails are more easily repaired than highways, and rail doesn't have the vulnerability that comes from operating at 30,000 feet above the surface of the Earth.
Simple question, if it's profitable why isn't private enterprise jumping at the chance to do it?
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I've said this in another thread, if you want to make an impact forget commuter service. Invest in freight service to get long haul trucks off the road. The trouble with that is the pollitician doesn't get his picture taken next to the shiny new train, no political points so they have no reason to support it no matter how sensible it is.
BTW cisco, Amtraks cruise at 79 mph nationwide, 90 mph on the Santa Fe, 110 mph in a few corridors (Porter to Kalamazoo, Albany-NYC) and 125-150 in the northeast corridor.
Simple question, if it's profitable why isn't private enterprise jumping at the chance to do it?
---------
I've said this in another thread, if you want to make an impact forget commuter service. Invest in freight service to get long haul trucks off the road. The trouble with that is the pollitician doesn't get his picture taken next to the shiny new train, no political points so they have no reason to support it no matter how sensible it is.
Private companies are contracted by the state to build the trains and stations, lay the tracks, to do consulting work, etc. The private sector is always heavily involved in the process. It creates a lot of jobs for private business.
In Spain for example, private companies are hired to operate some of the lines once they are built.
Simple question, if it's profitable why isn't private enterprise jumping at the chance to do it?
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I've said this in another thread, if you want to make an impact forget commuter service. Invest in freight service to get long haul trucks off the road. The trouble with that is the pollitician doesn't get his picture taken next to the shiny new train, no political points so they have no reason to support it no matter how sensible it is.
Because the days of the Railroad Tycoons are long gone.
It's easier to just sit back and let the government throw you money to build "their" railroad.
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