Will you take high speed trains to go to Chicago when they are finished? (Columbus: home, construction)

[lipued]

I think most of Ohio people know what US federal Government is planning to build-a high speed railroad system in Midwest. I`ve heard that trains will go from Chicago to Cincinnati and Cleveland(if it comes true), but I have no idea about Columbus.

Comparing with flight, high speed trains has one advantage, accessibility from downtown. Well, I`ve never been other Ohio cities, but I think most of people would agree that Cincinnati Union terminal is much closer to Cincinnati downtown and northern suburb counties than CVG airport. And I think other Ohio cities should not be so different. And this can do more than speed gap between an airplane and a high speed train.

One the other hand, the fare price can be an issue. Early price should cover construction cost, and this will make high speed rail fare more expensive than that of current amtrak train fare, although maintenance cost of electric trains is lower than that of diesel trains. I think it will still cheaper than a flight fare, but it must compete with greyhound and other buses.

Well, I will use high speed trains to go to Chicago from Ohio cities if they are constructed, but it is hard to say it is an efficient means of transit. Let me hear your opinion.

[Tenzo]

Originally Posted by lipued

I think most of Ohio people know what US federal Government is planning to build-a high speed railroad system in Midwest. I`ve heard that trains will go from Chicago to Cincinnati and Cleveland(if it comes true), but I have no idea about Columbus.

In order for train stations to be built in Ohio, you have to have people that want to go there.

[SWOH]

Right now, the only proposal I see being active is one for a high-speed train from Columbus to Chicago. Hopefully it happens.


lipued, you might want to check out All Aboard Ohio. Lots of good info there:

All Aboard Ohio - Advocacy group for intercity travel in Ohio.

And here's a link to good info on the CBUS-CHI proposal:

Columbus-Lima-Fort Wayne-Chicago passenger rail

[Spudcommando]

Sure I would do it, I've ridden on both the Shinkansen aka the Bullet Train and China's HSR; pretty impressed with both systems and would love to see something like that here in the states.

[dxdtdemon]

I thought the most recent thing was that any HSR going east from Chicago would go to Detroit and then through Ontario to get to New York.

[chet_kinkaid]

its only a matter of time before columbus gets linked into amtrac,the proposal a few years ago to link the 3 c's was of no value to columbus,or anyone else really,but getting columbus linked to chicago and pittsburgh and the route to new yorks penn station etc is essential.

[bjimmy24]

I'm really skeptical of this every happening, or at least any time soon.

But hey, Cleveland and Columbus are FINALLY connected via Megabus! If only I were in college again...

[motorman]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I'm really skeptical of this every happening, or at least any time soon.

But hey, Cleveland and Columbus are FINALLY connected via Megabus! If only I were in college again...

Agree with you on this one, bjimmy24--and I'm delighted to learn about the Megabus expansions. It may not seem like all that, but, then again, these new inter-city Megabus routes broadly resemble what's occurring with buses within the cities, themselves--ie, buses that have been transformed from their previous stop-and-go, block-to-block routes into sleek and comfortable BRT-routes.

As far as the same occurring with Ohio-rail passenger-travel, I dunno--but not because it isn't worthy. Just as exists in Europe, Ohio begs for high-speed rail, but so much is thwarting it ever happening. (Need I say more?) One of the most promising new rail ideas is the proposed Columbus-Chicago run (via Ft. Wayne). Without a doubt, this new service could become the bellwether of Ohio high-speed rail--but with the caveat that it WILL BE HIGH-SPEED. Such a comfortable train absolutely needs to exceed 110-MPH by cracking 150-MPH or more. (GEE-ZUS, HASN'T ANYONE IN OHIO LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT FRENCH AND GERMAN RAIL?! If not, just watch any one of dozens of "YouTube" videos and drop dead with envy...)

And lastly, as far as bringing high-speed passenger trains into/out of Cincinnati (via Union Terminal), I don't know if it's any longer feasible. So much of this venerable train terminal's former passenger-facilities have been removed to make more room for the huge Queensgate inter-modal operations that I don't know if high-speed passenger-rail can even be accommodated there.

[sandwalk]

If/When the Lakeshore Limited / Capitol Limited Amtrak routes are upgraded for higher speed trains, I would absolutely take them. These routes currently connect Chicago to the East Coast via Toledo & Cleveland. I'm from Sandusky (where both routes make a stop) and currently live in the Chicagoland area. As it stands right now, it's actually faster to drive my car when I come home to visit family. It's pretty sad that 'the greatest country in the world' has terrible passenger rail infrastructure.

[Peregrine]

Pretty sure our governor killed the train idea in Ohio...