Houston-Dallas High Speed Rail (Spring: house, tax, live in)

[Matadora]

I had no idea this was so close to becoming a reality!

5 Reasons the Houston-Dallas High-Speed Rail Project Makes Sense

[Dopo]

I'm amazed of how many negative stories I hear about it.

I'm sure is going to be the typical "We are all against it"
And once is running and people are enjoying it, they'll say: "See, we told you it makes sense"

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I'm amazed of how many negative stories I hear about it.

I'm sure is going to be the typical "We are all against it"
And once is running and people are enjoying it, they'll say: "See, we told you it makes sense"

You could be right, but personally I think its a terrible idea. Unlike an airport which can serve multiple destinations, it will serve only Houston and the Brazos Valley station. In addition to not saving that much time as opposed to just driving - the cost is outrageous. It would be infinitely cheaper and far less disruptive to everyone to just add a few buses that leave every 30 minutes....you can even make some first class buses and save a ton of money.

The cost projection of a seat on the train is the same as flying, yet the ride takes 2.5-3 hours rather than 40 minutes on a plane....only saving about an hour as opposed to driving. Take the time of clearing security, and the fact that the train dumps you at a station that may be nowhere near your destination and it actually takes longer than driving.

If Im going to shell out 4x the cost of a road trip, it better save me alot of time and this definitively doesn't do it. But, to each their own. I'm not opposed to it....I am opposed to the use of any state or Federal funds (and it is relying upon Federal grants) but I am not opposed to the train.

[DRob4JC]

I think it could be feasible, but obtaining the land could get dicey.

I would probably still drive, but that's just me.

[DanielWayne]

This could allow me to work physically in Dallas but live in NW Houston. For the stuff I do, a lot of the jobs have flexible schedules so it's possible to find a place that doesn't require a physical presence every work day. I read manuals and articles and books every single day, even weekends, so that 90 mins on the train could be spend on a laptop or buried in a book.

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

This could allow me to work physically in Dallas but live in NW Houston. For the stuff I do, a lot of the jobs have flexible schedules so it's possible to find a place that doesn't require a physical presence every work day. I read manuals and articles and books every single day, even weekends, so that 90 mins on the train could be spend on a laptop or buried in a book.

Its not a 90 minute train ride - its a 3 hour 2.5-3 hour ride. Plus you will still need to park and clear security just like you do at an airport - so the total commute time from your house to any given location in Dallas except the station is more likely to be about 4.5-5 hours, not 90 minutes.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by marksmu

Its not a 90 minute train ride - its a 3 hour 2.5-3 hour ride. Plus you will still need to park and clear security just like you do at an airport - so the total commute time from your house to any given location in Dallas except the station is more likely to be about 4.5-5 hours, not 90 minutes.

Huh? I haven't seen anything stating a 2.5-3 hour ride. What I've seen says 1.5 hours, which would make sense given its speed. And nothing about going through security. While I would expect the train's developers to put out as appealing of information as possible, I would also expect the opponents to put out exaggerated or flat-out inaccurate info - if that's where you're getting this from. I've taken HSR in Europe and there's no security to go through.

As long as the cost is comparable, I don't think the train will have any trouble attracting passengers who would have otherwise flown to North Texas (assuming that's their final destination). There might be a few folks who normally drive that it will attract, but probably not many. I do think it might significantly cut into Vonlane since it saves so much time. Convenience-wise, it's comparable to the airports, though the Houston site is probably more convenient for corporate-type travelers (compared to our airports) than the Dallas station would be.

Nevertheless, I just don't see this thing ultimately happening. Apart from the property acquisition issues, the capital cost is just ridiculous, and I don't think a successful operation will make up for it if fares are comparable to flying. Basically, my gut feel is that it's financially infeasible. And I would NOT support the use of public funds to prop it up.

[curbur]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

This could allow me to work physically in Dallas but live in NW Houston. For the stuff I do, a lot of the jobs have flexible schedules so it's possible to find a place that doesn't require a physical presence every work day. I read manuals and articles and books every single day, even weekends, so that 90 mins on the train could be spend on a laptop or buried in a book.

Where in NW Houston? In Spring Branch near the location of where the stop in Houston will supposedly be? Or do you mean Cypress? Cause if the latter, that's a pretty far drive still from where you'd be left off in the train. In fact, you'd have to pass right by your house everyday on the train coming in or leaving and then get in a car and drive for 45 min - 1 hour+ to/from your house cause there won't be a stop near there.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Huh? I haven't seen anything stating a 2.5-3 hour ride. What I've seen says 1.5 hours, which would make sense given its speed. And nothing about going through security. While I would expect the train's developers to put out as appealing of information as possible, I would also expect the opponents to put out exaggerated or flat-out inaccurate info - if that's where you're getting this from. I've taken HSR in Europe and there's no security to go through.

As long as the cost is comparable, I don't think the train will have any trouble attracting passengers who would have otherwise flown to North Texas (assuming that's their final destination). There might be a few folks who normally drive that it will attract, but probably not many. I do think it might significantly cut into Vonlane since it saves so much time. Convenience-wise, it's comparable to the airports, though the Houston site is probably more convenient for corporate-type travelers (compared to our airports) than the Dallas station would be.

Nevertheless, I just don't see this thing ultimately happening. Apart from the property acquisition issues, the capital cost is just ridiculous, and I don't think a successful operation will make up for it if fares are comparable to flying. Basically, my gut feel is that it's financially infeasible. And I would NOT support the use of public funds to prop it up.

Yes. If you've ever ridden trains in Europe, the security process is vastly easier than the process in airports.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I'm amazed of how many negative stories I hear about it.

I'm sure is going to be the typical "We are all against it"
And once is running and people are enjoying it, they'll say: "See, we told you it makes sense"

Its the rural counties' politicians. They get tax $$s, but don't get any stops, so they don't want it running through their property. They are very vocal.