President Obama's Plan for High Speed Rail
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the oil executive that first used the term "tree hugger" should be towed out to sea for use in a shark fishing tournament.
If you don't think Europeans drive, you've never been on an Autobahn!Americans fell in love with the automobile!
We are a country of control freaks!
The reason rail in Europe and Japan is profitable is because they impose huge gas taxes which supplements the train systems, thereby encouraging it's use. They're also decades ahead of us in technological advances on their rail systems.
It won't happen overnight, but it has to be started at some time and Obama has foresight, and in the long run, I think it will be worthwhile. If we think gas prices are going to remain the same forever, we are fooling ourselves. From an environmental standpoint, "tree huggers" may need to step back a bit and analyze the difference between automobile carbon emissions vs. a cleaner mode of transportation and less impact from new highways and maintenance.
It's difficult to imagine 6 Billion being allocated during these dire economic times, but when do start making an investment in into future, cleaner alternative modes of travel? Acela will be a good model on how to improve on future rail systems.
It won't happen overnight, but it has to be started at some time and Obama has foresight, and in the long run, I think it will be worthwhile. If we think gas prices are going to remain the same forever, we are fooling ourselves. From an environmental standpoint, "tree huggers" may need to step back a bit and analyze the difference between automobile carbon emissions vs. a cleaner mode of transportation and less impact from new highways and maintenance.
It's difficult to imagine 6 Billion being allocated during these dire economic times, but when do start making an investment in into future, cleaner alternative modes of travel? Acela will be a good model on how to improve on future rail systems.
Why? Did anyone ever consider that the U.S. is perfectly capable of coming up with solutions that match our own unique problems? Rail doesn't work in a country as large as the states. It's not cost effective, it's not fast enough, and it will never reach the places people want to go.
Becoming "more like europe" doesn't necessarily work over here. IMHO this isn't foresight, it's short sightedness.
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I am not advocating we "become more like Europe" I am advocating that we improve and expand our infrastructure in a smart way. Europe just happens to be an example many of us are familiar with.
Rail can work here! Have you read a history book? We've already got thousands of miles of tracks linking every major city (that we use for freight or have let fall into disrepair). I don't expect to take a train to work or to bee-bop around the panhandle, but it would be nice to have a rail station I could get to in under an hour that would allow me to travel extensively.
Trivia question - where is the largest & busiest Railyard in the world? (hint: not in Europe)
Rail can work here! Have you read a history book? We've already got thousands of miles of tracks linking every major city (that we use for freight or have let fall into disrepair). I don't expect to take a train to work or to bee-bop around the panhandle, but it would be nice to have a rail station I could get to in under an hour that would allow me to travel extensively.
Trivia question - where is the largest & busiest Railyard in the world? (hint: not in Europe)
I completely disagree that train service can not work here. It works perfectly well in the DC/NY area; it works on the California coast; it works in Canada...and for many years it worked here--as SB says, it still works for freight!
it is not a matter that it will not work--it's that before Obama, no one in leadership had the political will to suggest it.
it is not a matter that it will not work--it's that before Obama, no one in leadership had the political will to suggest it.
What do you suggest? Transporter Technology?
Train travel is only good for areas that have very high density. Outside of those areas it will simply lose money because it wont go where people want it to.
I think the future of environmentally friendly travel in the country is electric vehicles / abundant nuclear power.
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I completely disagree that train service can not work here. It works perfectly well in the DC/NY area; it works on the California coast; it works in Canada...and for many years it worked here--as SB says, it still works for freight!
it is not a matter that it will not work--it's that before Obama, no one in leadership had the political will to suggest it.
Canada doesn't have high speed rail.
California doesn't have high speed rail.
From what I've read, the Acela Express, thanks to various break downs, crashes, and safty issues has done nothing but burn through cash since it's inception.
More proof that high speed rail doesn't work in this country.