I don't know about Japan, but taken many high speed trains in Europe and they are much cheaper and more convenient than flying
................................. Really? That said, there are concerns about molestation as it can get crowded on trains. During rush hours on certain lines, there are some cars that are reserved just for women so that they don't have to worry about that stuff.
With Ryanair and all I doubt that trips from Barcelona to, say, Krakow, are cheaper. Although you're right on the convenience part. Train stations in Europe are right in the city centre, the frequency of departures, and the company you meet on trains make it a much better experience.
Thats a pretty far distance. I'm really talking about a couple of hundred miles at most. The best examples are the trains in Germany. Super fast and convenient. I also took the train from Brussels to Paris. That was a very nice trip.
Yep. It's not cheaper than flying. I think the best reason to have high-speed rail is you can actually walk around, have a dining car and, in the US, they would certainly create a business center car, printers, fax's, power, internet and Clutchfans.net!!! free. Now that would create commuter travel. I could actually be billable during the ride.
I would love it if the major cities in the US were connected by high speed rail. I think tourism would definitely sky rocket. To be able to jump on the train and get to Vegas, Miami, etc. from Houston in a few hours would be awesome.
Using prices in Japan isn't really a good measure. Its very expensive out there. If you're saying $100 or so for a trip on a train (thats what someone said earlier), then I'm saying it is cheaper. If its one-way, then that's obviously not the case. If I planned it out, I could get a flight regionally for $59 each way through Southwest, though that doesn't factor in the taxes and other fees. So that's at least $150 or so.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-05-09-high-speed-rail-money_n.htm Can we get some of this please? Rocket River Amtrak, 15 states get Florida's $2B in high-speed rail money By Joan Lowy, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Amtrak and rail projects in 15 states will get the $2 billion that Florida spurned when its governor canceled plans for high-speed train service, the Department of Transportation said Monday. EnlargeClose By Eileen Blass, USA TODAY An Amtrak Acela train at the station in Wilmington, Del. The largest share of the money — nearly $800 million — will be used to upgrade train speeds from 135 mph to 160 mph on segments of the heavily traveled Northeast corridor, the department said. Another $404 million will go to expand high-speed rail service in the Midwest, including newly constructed segments of 110-mph track between Detroit and Chicago that are expected to save passengers 30 minutes in travel time. Nearly $340 million will go toward state-of-the-art locomotives and rail cars for California and the Midwest. California will also get another $300 million toward trains that will travel up to 220 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles. "These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and rail cars," Vice President Joseph Biden said. President Barack Obama has sought to make creation of a national network of high-speed trains a signature project of his administration. He has said he wants to make fast trains accessible to 80% of Americans within 25 years. The money — initially $2.4 billion — had been awarded to Florida for high-speed trains between Tampa and Orlando. After Gov. Rick Scott canceled the project, the Transportation Department invited other states to bid for the money. It received 90 applications seeking a total of $10 billion. Scott said he was concerned that the state government would be locked into years of operating subsidies. However, a report by the state's transportation department forecast the rail line would be profitable. The project initially had been approved by Scott's predecessor, Republican-turned-Independent Charlie Crist. Two other Republican governors elected in November have canceled high-speed train projects in their states. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker turned down $810 million to build a Madison-to-Milwaukee high-speed line. Ohio Gov. John Kasich rejected $400 million for a project to connect Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus with slower-moving trains. Both the Ohio and Wisconsin projects had been approved by the governors' Democratic predecessors. Republican members of Congress have also opposed funds for high-speed trains, rescinding $400 million of the money previously awarded Florida as well as other unspent money designated for trains in budget deliberations with the administration.
I'm convinced that the only way we'll get any kind of useful nation-wide commuter rail in America is if we can somehow turn it into a mechanism for war/defense. Kind of like the interstate highway system.
i don't know, i really don't think its that viable. cities that have a lot of commuters between them like on the east coast already have useful train systems. outside of houston-dallas, houston-san antonio, and only really houston-dallas has heavy business travel, i just don't see it as that viable. its like a big fun toy. southwest already flies how many flights between these cities in a day? is it really more viable than that?
Austin, the capital. Also a viable way to transport prison inmates (in special cars at off peak times, obviously).
You have to have vision. You cannot see what is and stop I think it would encourage more business and grow the area. Rocket River
