Another reason high-speed rail may be important (Clayton: luxury, earthquakes)

[WilliamM]

What do volcanic eruptions and grounded flights in Europe have to do with Georgia's transportation mess?

Well, maybe there's a lesson here for Georgia politicians cool to anything that doesn't whiff of asphalt to ponder:

Travel: European Railroads Kept Continent Moving - Newsweek.com

[JPD]

Since Georgia's legislators can't see beyond their districts, their response would be:

"My district does not have a volcano. Beat it, punk."

[mike7586]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

What do volcanic eruptions and grounded flights in Europe have to do with Georgia's transportation mess?

Well, maybe there's a lesson here for Georgia politicians cool to anything that doesn't whiff of asphalt to ponder:

Travel: European Railroads Kept Continent Moving - Newsweek.com

Great point about the benefits of high speed rail, but I'm just waiting for the comments from people about how we don't have to worry about a volcano here...

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by JPD

Since Georgia's legislators can't see beyond their districts, their response would be:

"My district does not have a volcano. Beat it, punk."

Yeah, sadly you're probably right.

[atlantagreg30127]

If one of the semi-active volcanoes were to puke in the Pacific Northwest, it could in theory with the right drift cause the same issues here on the mainland U.S. as what they're having in Europe right now. Not to mention the fact that along the way here and there, there are plenty of "dormant" volcanoes in some places in North America that could go off unannounced at any time.

Much of Europe has a long established rail system. For them it's a matter of adding a lot more trains and schedules to their system and while it'll take longer to get from point A to point B, they can still do it without only resorting to cars. We can't do that. Decades ago the oil companies did all of their behind the scenes work to shut down most of our rail lines in favor of Interstate highways and Diesel commuter bus systems. So it'll certainly be interesting to see what would happen here if such an event were to take place.

[DreamKeeper]

We seriously may be looking at the Yellowstone caldera erupting in the near future. If that thing goes off there is not doubt that most of North America will be covered with ash clouds that will make what's happening in Europe look like a puff of smoke from a cigarette.

Utah earthquakes leading up to volcanic action? | Deseret News

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by DreamKeeper

We seriously may be looking at the Yellowstone caldera erupting in the near future. If that thing goes off there is not doubt that most of North America will be covered with ash clouds that will make what's happening in Europe look like a puff of smoke from a cigarette.

Utah earthquakes leading up to volcanic action? | Deseret News

I don't yellow-stone will go off anytime soon , but i do think other Volcano's will. The Pacific Coast ones form Cali-Alaska are under immense stress compared to Yellowstone.

[US-Traveller]

High-speed rail will not catch on in the United States in the near future. The Airline lobby is very influential. Americans also have always seen flying as cool and a luxury, whereas rail and bus has been seen as something that the less fortunate use. There is also ample evidence that the cost of high speed rail would make it unprofitable in the United States, and that is why private industry has been unwilling to invest. If it were to be profitable you would see Railroad Kings like Warren Buffett having many talks with the goverment and landowners about how to build a system.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

High-speed rail will not catch on in the United States in the near future. The Airline lobby is very influential. Americans also have always seen flying as cool and a luxury, whereas rail and bus has been seen as something that the less fortunate use. There is also ample evidence that the cost of high speed rail would make it unprofitable in the United States, and that is why private industry has been unwilling to invest. If it were to be profitable you would see Railroad Kings like Warren Buffett having many talks with the goverment and landowners about how to build a system.

Orly , but it has up here in the Northeast , parts of the Midwest , Cali , & Northwest? Amtrak ridership has spiked on all lines since last year

[Backinblac]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

High-speed rail will not catch on in the United States in the near future. The Airline lobby is very influential. Americans also have always seen flying as cool and a luxury, whereas rail and bus has been seen as something that the less fortunate use. There is also ample evidence that the cost of high speed rail would make it unprofitable in the United States, and that is why private industry has been unwilling to invest. If it were to be profitable you would see Railroad Kings like Warren Buffett having many talks with the goverment and landowners about how to build a system.

That hasn't stopped us in the past. Telephone service in Clayton Georgia is a money losing proposition and so is broadband. We choose what to do, profit or not.

I think part of the issue is we aren't a nation of dense cities. Maybe that will or is changing but Americans historically live in "the country".