Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."
- - - Elmer T. Peterson *(Misattributed to De Tocqueville)
Fortunately, in America's case, we're promised a "republican form" wherein the individual is sovereign, and the government is his servant, not his ruler.
So you support if the majority wants something like this, then it should happen, if government is the servant, then it should serve the needs of the public, and if the majority of the public wants something then the government should serve that need.
Unless you are saying that the US needs to be turned over to a dictatorship, then a monarchy so that government can become the ruler rather than the servant....is that what you ultimately want for our country?
The line in question has always been the dominant passsenger rail option for Chicago-St. Louis traffic, primarily because it runs via the state capital at Springified -- therefore, the politicians and their groupies have a direct interest in it.
In addition, the downsizing of the physical rail network has allowed "landlord" freight railroad Union Pacific to divert almost all its traffic to another route via Danvile, Ill; what little local pickup and delivery is still needed can be done overnight, with fewer congestion and safety concerns.
This is how the development of High Speed Rail in America is almost certain to evolve; the large-scale networks ballyhooed in the original post are usually conceived by people who have little or no knowedge of the physical obstacles and the high costs they impose -- or that both globailzation and the demographics of a graying American population are likely to price the "big Lionel set" out of our reach.
The line in question...Chicago-St. Louis...via the state capital at Springified...is how the development of High Speed Rail in America is almost certain to evolve; the large-scale networks ballyhooed in the original post are usually conceived by people who have little or no knowedge of the physical obstacles and the high costs they impose -- or that both globailzation and the demographics of a graying American population are likely to price the "big Lionel set" out of our reach.
Chicago-St. Louis is about 300 miles, which is smack in the middle of the 150-500 mile range most experts agree is optimal for HSR routes. I would agree that a trans-continental HSR isn't realistic or even desirable, but as your link shows, runs between major cities of about that distance are eminently feasible.
The other side of the coin is also reflected in your link: improved passenger rail in the U.S. isn't only about shiny new train engines - it's also about organization and efficiency, such as moving freight traffic to different lines or different time windows in order to improve passenger schedules.
This really isn't that hard: rational improvements in planning and execution combined with relatively inexpensive improvements in existing rail infrastructure, topped off with judicious deployment of advanced HSR technology in strategic locations. It's the sort of elementary planning any decent staff officer can manage in five minutes straight from a deep sleep. It shouldn't be beyond the capactiy of 310 million Americans.
It goes 135mph which is HSR by Global standards...
HSR 125-300mph+
For a very limited stretch due to congestion and right-of-way issues. Average speed is closer to 70.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Please apply
