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The most important factor needed in order for HSR viable is demand.
And there just isn't any demand for it in America.
People, by and large just don't care about it.......we like the complete freedom that a car brings in being able to go anywhere, anytime without having to rely on anything or anyone else.
Again, such freedom comes with heavy subsidy from the state.
When you have to pay the real price for such freedom. for example, $5+ gas price, and $15 per 100 miles on the expressway, then you decide if you want to keep that freedom.
I want the freedom to live in 8000sf mansion in Beverly Hills. I want the freedom to stay in Ritz Carlton whenever I travel. But when I have to pay the market price, I don't want that freedom any more. Do you?
Trains are very comfortable for long trips. People would still use their cars for shorter trips, like shopping or visiting friends but trains for longer trips would free up the highways and provide a comfortable means of getting from place to place. Trains could also help getting the bad drivers off the roads!
It would work great along the east coast where the cities and towns are closer together. The west, probably not.
Does anyone really believe the same types who run the post office, Amtrak and your local DMV, could efficiently build, run and maintain a high speed rail system? When pigs fly
The post office does excellent work and I`ve never had a problem with the DMV. Amtrak gets a pittance of a subsidy relative to what air and car travel get.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,329 posts, read 54,389,283 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FatBob96
So?
The most important factor needed in order for HSR viable is demand.
And there just isn't any demand for it in America.
People, by and large just don't care about it.......we like the complete freedom that a car brings in being able to go anywhere, anytime without having to rely on anything or anyone else.
There wasn't much demand for air travel in the '20s and '30s either when it was mainly a novelty.
I don't know whether the same would hold true for HSR or not but people often don't know what they want until it's put in front of them.
Again, such freedom comes with heavy subsidy from the state.
When you have to pay the real price for such freedom. for example, $5+ gas price, and $15 per 100 miles on the expressway, then you decide if you want to keep that freedom.
I want the freedom to live in 8000sf mansion in Beverly Hills. I want the freedom to stay in Ritz Carlton whenever I travel. But when I have to pay the market price, I don't want that freedom any more. Do you?
You might be right in some ways but your argument is kind of the dictionary definition of a moot point.
The vast majority in America would probably rather see investment in rebuiding and streamlining the existing infrastructure.
The whole concept of rail requires a more collectivist society than we have in America....
So, add it to the socialist wish list along with single payer healthcare.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,329 posts, read 54,389,283 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmagoo
The post office does excellent work and I`ve never had a problem with the DMV. Amtrak gets a pittance of a subsidy relative to what air and car travel get.
I agree, I used to sell a bit on Ebay and Priority Mail was my go to, never had a problem. And the DMV here in NC is on the ball, went online to renew a registration Mon afternoon and it was in my mailbox Fri.
There wasn't much demand for air travel in the '20s and '30s either when it was mainly a novelty.
I don't know whether the same would hold true for HSR or not but people often don't know what they want until it's put in front of them.
Kind of an expensive prospect to have a "build it and they will come" attitude about
Maybe limited lines as opposed to attempting to replace the automobile entirely.
Pay for it with private investment funds instead of my taxes and I have no issues with it at all....... assuming it's all done without confiscating private land under eminent domain.
Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
27,606 posts, read 14,604,784 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FatBob96
Kind of an expensive prospect to have a "build it and they will come" attitude about
Maybe limited lines as opposed to attempting to replace the automobile entirely.
Pay for it with private investment funds instead of my taxes and I have no issues with it at all....... assuming it's all done without confiscating private land under eminent domain.
Of course, the way you develop a rail network is to start with one line in the densest most heavily traveled areas. Then when and if ridership exceeds projections, go from there. It's the way the light rail network is being developed here
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