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High speed rail would be great, but only if self sustaining. Amtrak has been a black hole.
Government can't keep up with road maintenance, how would high speed rail infrastructure be any different?
And being an arrogant American, I could give two s**** how Europe does it.
0 replies from republicans = It's a good idea but they don't want to admit it because it comes from Obama
Republican bipartisanship at its best
You won't hear it from this conservative. I am about as PRO high speed rail and light rail fan that you'll ever find. I spent two years in Germany and fell in love with their transportation system.
High speed rail would be great, but only if self sustaining. Amtrak has been a black hole.
Government can't keep up with road maintenance, how would high speed rail infrastructure be any different?
And being an arrogant American, I could give two s**** how Europe does it.
Once established, rail is nowhere near as difficult to maintain as the highway system.
Its actually an idea worth looking into. Obama may have an idea already suggested years ago, but at least he shows he's capabale of knowing a good idea when he's given one. now all he has to do is make it doable by finding the money. He can scrap many of his less than sensible budgetary plans.
Shut down the airline industry,
they are highly subsidized and most airports are owned and run by the government
Now your on to something.
Pull away the airline subsidies(not shut them down as you exaggerate) and fares will increase, thus creating an opportunity and financial incentive for the rail industry to develop it themselves.
What do you all think about Obama's proposal to build a highspeed train network?
The reason passenger service died in this country was because of the scheduled airlines. Plane travel is faster, more convenient, and more comfortable.
If there was a demand for travel by train once again, the railroads would be building these lines.
However, today, it will be difficult with environmental restrictions, etc. and obtaining the rights-of-way (for which you must take land from private owners) will not be easy, and will be expensive.
Based on the history of Amtrak, I doubt these lines would be profitable. Another government boondoggle in the making.
That looks like a good route plan. I suggest starting with upgrading existing track as has been done in New England but plan on building new high speed track on a separate right of way designed for 200+ mph service with seperated grade crossings etc. Yes, this will cost a lot of money, but will provide much more economic value than million dollar cruise missiles, subsidized alcohol fuel, oil depletion allowances and many of the other government boondoggles.
High speed rail is just one of the things we need to do to bring our physical infrastructure into the 21st century. We have been wearing out the existing and it need to be rebuilt and improved.
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