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How so , maybe in Florida....or parts of Florida...but if routed right it will be used by alot....
How so? Look at the price per mile. Rail is crazy expensive. Who cares how many people use it, you could buy them all a C-class Mercedes plus gas & maintenance for 5 years for what it costs to build rail, and that's if the train was full. If it isn't, and you know it isn't, you could buy every rider an S-Class instead. Roads are cheaper, faster, don't limit you to a government bureaucrat's idea of when you can travel, and with modern cars produce less pollution than a train does.
The "I will create jobs" Governor Voldemort started his efforts by trying to cut 8500 jobs from the state and denying this funding that would have created 24,000.
So the current tally of jobs this guy has created is.... -32,500.
Nice to see the conservative policy of unlimited debt started during the Raygun administration has done what they planned. The deficit is preventing any government spending but for our military adventures supporting the "New American Century".
Now how do we repair our deteriorated water works, sewage treatment, bridges, dams, buildings and roads? This work needs to be done and IMHO is far more important than our latest Crusade to make the world safe of our brand of Capitalism and religion.
There are a ton of other things far more important then rail to spend money on if you want to continue spending money we do not have.
Jobs for Americans would be a great place to start.
And who could pay for the cost of the ticket to get on the rail with so many unemployed people?
Not that it would solve everything, but do keep in mind that building the rail would provide a lot of direct and indirect jobs, both short and long term, as well as the eventual collection of fares (yes, there will be those who can afford the fares). There would also be increased tax revenues and consumer spending from the employed locals, and increased tourists who spend.
FWIW - According to an article in "Trains" magazine China is building a HSR from Shanghai to Peking. This is about the same distance as NYC to Chicago (about 800 miles) with a planned city center to center travel time of FOUR hours! Now that is HSR.
Too bad we have to build X-37-B space planes instead of something useful. At least the space plane uses petroleum in the boosters. HSR does not and there is the reason we do not build any.
Bascialy the flaw will always be that itneeds so much pubic mney and i thsi economy with future debt itsnot goig to happen unless pravte investment thnks its worth investig in. AmTrak has pretty mucg killed passenger rail and itself can look to havig to raise rates as fedwral support fo it likely to drop in comig years.
How so? Look at the price per mile. Rail is crazy expensive. Who cares how many people use it, you could buy them all a C-class Mercedes plus gas & maintenance for 5 years for what it costs to build rail, and that's if the train was full. If it isn't, and you know it isn't, you could buy every rider an S-Class instead. Roads are cheaper, faster, don't limit you to a government bureaucrat's idea of when you can travel, and with modern cars produce less pollution than a train does.
Actually it depends on where you build.....some long lines here are only costing 90 Million $$$ yet will run 50 miles and carry 40,000 ppl. Tracks can last up to 60 years , Trains can last up to 50 years ,Bridges and Tunnels as long as capacity isn't maxed out can last up to 100 years..... 2 Tracks can handle up to 300 trains a day or 60,000 people. You would need a 2x2 road or Highway to handle that. Roads need to be widened every 5-10 years to keep up with demand and pavement needs replacing every 2-3 due to the North American method.... Opposed to the European method where it lasts longer.... Maintaining HSR or Regional Railways isn't that much....theres barely any needed. Except a monthly check , HSR pays for itself....so thats covered. HSR doesn't need to be subsidized like other formats of Rail... It can turn a profit like the Acela or TGV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevebri
HSR trains probably wouldn't use diesel directly as the track would be magnetized or electrified. Less dependence on foreign oil.
No it wouldn't but thats to far for HSR.....
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