Dallas Bullet Train (Houston, Austin, Atlanta: neighborhoods, live, mall)

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by bu2

Not as bad as the Texas TBone that Perry and others were pushing. They hardly had anybody outside DFW and College Station on their board.

Basically Inner West Houston is nicer than Inner South Dallas and the downtown stretch ran into a lot of opposition. Plus it would be very expensive.

There are options, the existing track that runs into DT Houston now is rated for 80 mph. They could build the HSR track to the 290 location then just slow the train down for the remaining 5 miles into DT, at 80 mph that's a 4 minute leg which would not be significantly longer than the HSR would take considering that train would have to start slowing considerably sooner if it were going at high speeds.

This company is working to turn DFW into a HSR hub and Houston is only a means to an end in their thinking. The NW transit location is a lame duck when it comes to expanding HSR access into Houston its location is just too eccentric, and leaves few options to work with.

Saying this is better than another screw Houston plan is not a compelling argument in favor of this plan. If HSR is a viable alternative to air or other land based modes then somebody else will come up with a better plan eventually, that caters more to our local interest. lets not jump at the first couple of plans that are dangled before us by essentially the same people.

[crone]

First couple of plans? For rail in Houston? This is the umpteenth one. Herb Keller was very good at shooting them down.

No reason why this won't work. No tax money involved, so no need to drag the approval out until the whole thing dies a slow death.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by crone

First couple of plans? For rail in Houston? This is the umpteenth one. Herb Keller was very good at shooting them down.

No reason why this won't work. No tax money involved, so no need to drag the approval out until the whole thing dies a slow death.

If there are no tax dollars involved why are they so needy of public approval ? Somewhere along the line I think they do envision tax subsidies or perhaps even a bailout if necessary. No thank you.


If this is truly market driven then why even debate it ? They want people to fall in love with the concept so they will have a plan B.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Actually I was a supporter of HSR until they decided to terminate the Houston end of the line at the Northwest transit center. This whole vision that TCP has is just a little too North Texas centric for my taste.

This I agree with. I think it's a significant problem.

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

If there are no tax dollars involved why are they so needy of public approval ? Somewhere along the line I think they do envision tax subsidies or perhaps even a bailout if necessary. No thank you.

If this is truly market driven then why even debate it ? They want people to fall in love with the concept so they will have a plan B.

They will need to use eminent domain, and they need public opinion on their side for that. Not to actually use it, but to keep there from being a groundswell of opposition against it.

But no tax dollars. I don't think once they start they will be able to reverse that course. Who wants to bail out an ongoing operation?

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

There are options, the existing track that runs into DT Houston now is rated for 80 mph. They could build the HSR track to the 290 location then just slow the train down for the remaining 5 miles into DT, at 80 mph that's a 4 minute leg which would not be significantly longer than the HSR would take considering that train would have to start slowing considerably sooner if it were going at high speeds.

Which tracks are rated at 80mph? Certainly none of the ones that head out towards 290, which have a number of level crossings and curves. Besides, the freight lines will never allow HSR to run on their tracks - there's too much money to be made from freight.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Which tracks are rated at 80mph? Certainly none of the ones that head out towards 290, which have a number of level crossings and curves. Besides, the freight lines will never allow HSR to run on their tracks - there's too much money to be made from freight.

They are going to be using current RR right of way along most of 290 anyway.

Most mainline track, especially that owned by major railroads is Class 4 track. See link below for chart showing speed limits for various classes of railroad track.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_s...es#cite_note-9

The resistance they were getting going through the Washington Corridor area had more to do with the speed and noise that a HSR train would make and not the expense of it.

Even if they can't use existing class 4 track laying new class 4 track would still be more economical than new class 9 track or above.

[montiff]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

This company is working to turn DFW into a HSR hub and Houston is only a means to an end in their thinking. The NW transit location is a lame duck when it comes to expanding HSR access into Houston its location is just too eccentric, and leaves few options to work with.:

While I agree that this location is not optimal, saying it's "too eccentric" is over the top. Look at the park and ride shuttle options, and many proposals to build an east-west light rail line to the location.

[crone]

It was my understanding that all track for the HSR would be new and elevated in town.

Did the state of Texas declare no more grade crossings?

[3shipguy]

Originally Posted by crone

It was my understanding that all track for the HSR would be new and elevated in town.

Did the state of Texas declare no more grade crossings?

That would be awesome. No more blowing of the horn.

[Jack Lance]

Perhaps we should just let Amtrak provide HSR service in Texas..

While Amtrak is a perfectly fine way to travel, especially on the Eastern seaboard, the country's publicly owned rail company doesn't exactly have a high-tech reputation. That will change in the next few years, thanks to a massive $2.45 billion loan from the federal government, which the company plans to invest in 28 next-generation train sets and significant upgrades to the Northeast Corridor.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/28/...d-trains-2021/