Houston-Dallas high speed rail: eminent domain approved (Earth: construction, quality of life)

[resonator]

How about Houston-Galveston. Tried a couple times already...

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

And how is this company that owns no railroad cars and no railroad track and currently provides no railroad services deemed to be a "train"? It is a paper company that identifies as a railroad.

There is no requirement under Texas law that a railroad company currently operate rail lines. Here's a good article on the Court of Appeals ruling that the Texas Supreme Court declined to review https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2020...-train-ruling/

Originally Posted by oceangaia

They can say it is a private venture now but I have zero confidence that taxpayer money won't be used to bail it out. Is this going to be another venture where the private company stands to reap the profits if it succeeds and the taxpayer stands to bear the losses if it fails?

I also doubt it is going to be price competitive without public subsidies. Just look at Amtrak fares. Without stops you probably won't have the riders and with stops you won't be competitive on travel time.

If the HSR fails, it's most likely the bondholders that suffer. The State, or another entity, might pick up the pieces, but there's no requirement to do so.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by WRM20

There is no requirement under Texas law that a railroad company currently operate rail lines. Here's a good article on the Court of Appeals ruling that the Texas Supreme Court declined to review https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2020...-train-ruling/

If the HSR fails, it's most likely the bondholders that suffer. The State, or another entity, might pick up the pieces, but there's no requirement to do so.

But how are you a railroad without railcars and rail lines? You're just a paper company that dreams of being a railroad some day. Hey did I ever tell you about my Oceangaia Space Agency? I don't actually have any spacecraft or any aerospace engineers but, you know, the name says... Or maybe you would like to direct deposit your paycheck to Oceangaia National Bank. Again, I don't have any reserves or accounts or ATMs or anything but, you know, the name says...


Most likely? If it collapses and the money is gone then it's investors lost their investment but there will still big costs to clean up and restore the land. The government is always the responsible party of last resort.

[mojo101]

Originally Posted by resonator

How about Houston-Galveston. Tried a couple times already...

may be just a busline would be nice

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

They can say it is a private venture now but I have zero confidence that taxpayer money won't be used to bail it out. Is this going to be another venture where the private company stands to reap the profits if it succeeds and the taxpayer stands to bear the losses if it fails?

I also doubt it is going to be price competitive without public subsidies. Just look at Amtrak fares. Without stops you probably won't have the riders and with stops you won't be competitive on travel time.

I agree with you - there is substantial risk the venture fails. Their business plan is to essentially monetize owned land near the station via development to subsidize operating losses and perhaps even make a profit. I don't know the numbers but its a very speculative and risky investment imo. I wouldn't invest in it.

With that being said, I'm of the opinion that public transit is a public service and is not intended to make a profit. Bullet trains don't operate at a profit anywhere in the world IIRC, and this would be no different - the difference would theoretically be the capture of profits from land development to offset. If that doesn't happen, I'm not against the gov picking up the tab on some level - I'd far rather spend my tax dollars on something like this as opposed to subsidizing companies to move here or trying to build a futile border wall.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by resonator

How about Houston-Galveston. Tried a couple times already...

Every time I say this, some idiot says:
“No ... I like driving my truck to Galveston”

I respond with: “how would you like to do that with less traffic?”
And at that moment they change the topic

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Every time I say this, some idiot says:
“No ... I like driving my truck to Galveston”

I respond with: “how would you like to do that with less traffic?”
And at that moment they change the topic

I would like to drive my truck to Galveston without also paying for your choo choo ride. So if the train is a private venture or self-supporting then I'm all for it.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

I would like to drive my truck to Galveston without also paying for your choo choo ride. So if the train is a private venture or self-supporting then I'm all for it.

Well then, why should you get to drive your truck on subsidized roads?

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Well then, why should you get to drive your truck on subsidized roads?

They're not. Just about everyone is using the roads. A subsidy is when the many support the few.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

I agree with you - there is substantial risk the venture fails. Their business plan is to essentially monetize owned land near the station via development to subsidize operating losses and perhaps even make a profit. I don't know the numbers but its a very speculative and risky investment imo. I wouldn't invest in it.

With that being said, I'm of the opinion that public transit is a public service and is not intended to make a profit. Bullet trains don't operate at a profit anywhere in the world IIRC, and this would be no different - the difference would theoretically be the capture of profits from land development to offset. If that doesn't happen, I'm not against the gov picking up the tab on some level - I'd far rather spend my tax dollars on something like this as opposed to subsidizing companies to move here or trying to build a futile border wall.

It's fine as long as their financial plan includes full non-public coverage for whatever cleanup is required if the venture fails. This venture is intended as a fully private and it should stay that way. It is not public transit.