Rail is so cool, I really wish we had a high speed rail system in Texas, it would be so much better than flying everywhere. DD
Amen!! It's cool and a nice alternative to flying. I wish we had a more extensive rail system just here in Houston. Living in the burbs I've never had a reason to use the current Houston rail.
We had one. Here are a couple of links describing why it died. http://houstontransit.blogs.rice.edu/2011/04/10/who-killed-the-houston-street-car/ http://houstontransit.blogs.rice.edu/2011/04/16/who-killed-the-houston-streetcar-part-2/
And thanks to a car-friendly-ish policy here, that'll continue. Houston is one backward-a$$ city when it comes to rail. My grandfather would have loved those pictures here, he was the world's biggest train freak. He'd go to restaurants just because they'd be next to railroad tracks and he'd be able to see/hear trains pass. In fact, he had a business (Mercy Corps) located at the Port of Houston off Clinton. You'd enter a gate near the turning basin and there were the trailers. As a kid I'd sleep on the hide-a-bed couch and trains would rumble---and I mean, RUMBLE---past on tracks about ten feet from the back of the trailers. Not that this has anything to do with commuter trains, but he loved those, too, you know? Chicago's train system is extensive and works very well but here? Pppsssshaw!
Rolling on Amtrak right now, so wish rail was better in Texas. This is the rare opportunity to ride where it made sense. Eugene to Portland in about the same time as driving for much cheaper than a rental and gas.
