Maryland should build a high-speed bullet train...direct from DC to Baltimore....15 minutes maximum... (Westminster: how much, living)

[Tiger Beer]

Maryland should build a high-speed bullet train...direct from DC to Baltimore...no stops...15 minutes maximum...

It would completely revolutionize Baltimore...$$ and wealth would pour in, for those seeking urban living at much lower prices.

[barante]

This idea was advocated by Bob Embry and Abell Foundation some 20 years ago, but it isn't going anywhere. Too costly, too much redtape to overcome.

I'll be in Shanghai in two months and will be interested in riding the maglev between the airport and downtown.

A further complication, for America, is that one needs a functioning mass-transit system to feed into the maglev. One exists in Washington, but not in Baltimore. Without such a system, the time savings may not justify the costs.

Anyway, it ain't gonna happen.

[ichy]

15 minutes? That's never going to happen. Improvements to the existing commuter rail service are a much more realistic thing to hope for. If you could shave, say, 20% off of the time a MARC trip takes that would be a pretty meaningful improvement.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by ichy

15 minutes? That's never going to happen. Improvements to the existing commuter rail service are a much more realistic thing to hope for. If you could shave, say, 20% off of the time a MARC trip takes that would be a pretty meaningful improvement.

Yeah, I don't see it happening in the States either.

In Japan, the entire country is wired up that way. Shinkansens (bullet trains) travel at around 185mph. Being that DC and Baltimore is only 40 miles apart...than a short little stop like that would only be 15 minutes, if it were in Japan. The Maglev in China travels much faster - not sure average speed for Maglev, but highest speed recorded at 361mph. Highest speed for Japan shinkansin is around 275mph.

Unfortunately, the U.S. seriously lacks the support for anything of that nature whatsoever....even a tiny little short-distance one like that. But the technology certainly exists in Asia and Europe anyways.

[Uptkid]

No...

[InvaderBryce]

One day there will be some form of HSR along the NEC, but I doubt it will happen in the next 20 to 25 years since HSR has sort of become a political issue in some places (see CA and FL). I think if we have HSR that is financed 4 ways (Federal, State, Local and & Private Investment) then I think we could do it.

But I doubt anything like this gets done in the next 20 to 25 years given the economic and political climate.

[DarkWolf]

The New NEC will have travel times down to 15 minutes between Baltimore and DC , 70 minutes to Harrisburg and 50 minutes to Philly.

[rsh56]

Good idea, but happen not gonna.

[picardlx]

I'm not one who would be opposed to a new transit project, the more the better in my view. But with Acela already very expensive to the point that people commuting between Baltimore and Washington for work cannot afford the daily fare; how much would the HSR fare cost, and wouldn't it just serve tourists wanting to get from the Harbor to DC site seeing and back?

I still want HSR, but I just don't know if it will change the lives of ordinary everyday people as much as I would like.

[DarkWolf]

The Acela and Amtrak are Intercity and not for commuting , HSR wold replace the money losing short distance flights... MARC would beefed up with the New NEC proposed , service every 10-15 minutes would be allowed due to more tracks added to the NEC and a larger DC Union and Baltimore Penn station. Alot of people think its just Amtrak who benefits from the NEW NEC , but it would allow for MD , VA , DE , PA , NJ , NY , CT , RI , MA , NH , VT , and ME to expand there systems. Everything feeds into the NEC , kinda like everything feeds into I-95. The Northeastern Rail Master plan would have MARC expand to LA Plata , Westminster , Hagerstorm ,and Amtrak service to York/Harrisburg.