Cost of High Speed Train Significantly Increasing (San Diego, San Jose: real estate, neighborhoods)

[Bluesmama]

I think a speed train could have added value, but time was pee'd away. It needed to begin construction 20-sum years ago. But as time passed, the $ signs continally spiraled and always will. The estimated costs are now so far out into the stratosphere that there's NO WAY that a speed-train could ever pay for itself. At this point I think the whole plan should be trashed. NOT a good concept for a state in such financial crisis.

[18Montclair]

This was never a good idea. Im glad its slowly unraveling.

LA to Vegas would have been a much more practical and useful bullet train.

For the Bay, Id rather see BART ring the entire bay region(Not only Santa Clara but also Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties) and maybe even have express trains to the Central Valley then see an attempt to connect to SoCal when we already have more than sufficient flights a day from our 3 international airports.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

This was never a good idea. Im glad its slowly unraveling.

LA to Vegas would have been a much more practical and useful bullet train.

For the Bay, Id rather see BART ring the entire bay region(Not only Santa Clara but also Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties) and maybe even have express trains to the Central Valley then see an attempt to connect to SoCal when we already have more than sufficient flights a day from our 3 international airports.

That's a good point, a regional approach vs connecting the large metro areas which already have a ton of cheap flights.

[Majin]

Good I hope this project goes down in flames.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Simpsons Guide - Simpsons Song Lyrics- Monorail

[bentstrider]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

LA to Vegas would have been a much more practical and useful bullet train.

Definitely, especially for those of us that have to go from the high desert down to the LA area every once in awhile and don't have access to a car to deal with the 15.
The once a day SouthWest Chief is already a pain to deal with.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by bentstrider

Definitely, especially for those of us that have to go from the high desert down to the LA area every once in awhile and don't have access to a car to deal with the 15.
The once a day SouthWest Chief is already a pain to deal with.

Wouldn't it be much cheaper to just run another train, as opposed to going with high speed there?

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Wouldn't it be much cheaper to just run another train, as opposed to going with high speed there?

California has a perfectly fine conventional rail network. It just needs to be supported and enhanced, and could be for a fraction of the cost of high-speed rail. More Surfliners, Capitol Corridors and San Joaquins. I repeat, it's not as sexy and doesn't have the "wow" factor of so-called bullet trains, but conventional rail is quick and efficient. Just need more of it.

Cars and big roads are in their sunset days. It's over! First of all, the price of gas in a few short years will make it impossible for anyone but the very rich to freewheel around. For another, increasingly impoverished state coffers will make road maintenance more and more difficult. Roads and bridges will crumble until they're shut down with no funds to fix and keep open.

[CAVA1990]

Would make more sense to run frequent 100mph (not high speed) trains in a big triangle between the IE, SD, and LA.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

This was never a good idea. Im glad its slowly unraveling.

LA to Vegas would have been a much more practical and useful bullet train.

For the Bay, Id rather see BART ring the entire bay region(Not only Santa Clara but also Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties) and maybe even have express trains to the Central Valley then see an attempt to connect to SoCal when we already have more than sufficient flights a day from our 3 international airports.

You're rooting against HSR but you think BART (and it's stupid '70s concept of future technology) is a good idea?

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

California has a perfectly fine conventional rail network.

It takes something like 8 hours with delays and transfers to get to LA from here. It takes 5 by car if I speed and would be about 2 by HSR. How is that perfectly fine?