US High Speed Rail Network - worth it?

[N-7]

If they model this on European or Japanese Trains then 16 hours on a train would be far superior to the 3.5 to 4 hour flight. Also that 3.5 to 4 hour flight is more realistically 6-8 hours (if you're lucky) since you're not accounting for how early you have to arrive at an airport, time it takes to board, time it takes to taxi, take off land, etc.

Aside from that, the majority of people don't travel the whole trip.

[Reeve]

I'd still take the hour flight to Chicago over the ~4 hour train ride. I like getting where I'm going as quickly as possible (unless, the price is right).

Except you have to get to the airport 1.5 hours early for the flight, and unless you're doing carry on only, you have to wait for the baggage claim afterwards. So really you end up saving maybe an hour if you're lucky, and even then, the whole trip is just far less pleasant. Plus, the flight has far worse environmental impacts than the train.

[Naxere]

Keep in mind, some of the longer trips can be done overnight. Japan has "sleeper cars" which you can reserve a head of time. It's essentially like staying in a small hotel room overnight, except you are traveling while sleeping. Effective use of time!

I consider getting to my destination as quickly as I can so I can enjoy my vacation/work trip an effective use of time.

[Rukentuts]

I consider getting to my destination as quickly as I can so I can enjoy my vacation/work trip an effective use of time.

Well if you have mobile WiFi, just work remotely and don't take vacation time.

[Ult92]

I'd still take the hour flight to Chicago over the ~4 hour train ride. I like getting where I'm going as quickly as possible (unless, the price is right).

I take commuter flights from New York to DC all the time. The flight is only 40 minutes, but it is misleading. I arrive at the airport AT LEAST 1 hour before boarding begins (which in itself is usually 20 minutes before scheduled depart time). Security lines are often long and I've almost missed the fight a few times (last week I stood in a security line at Newark airport, for, yes, 1 hour). The time it takes to simply taxi, wait in the takeoff line, possible delays (which happens more often than not on the small planes I fly), 40 minute flight time, taxing again, then getting my checked bag. It all ends up taking almost equal time as simply driving there.

Guess what? It becomes a 4 hour ordeal to fly.

[Naxere]

I take commuter flights from New York to DC all the time. The flight is only 40 minutes, but it is misleading. I arrive at the airport AT LEAST 1 hour before boarding begins (which in itself is usually 20 minutes before scheduled depart time). Security lines are often long and I've almost missed the fight a few times (last week I stood in a security line at Newark airport, for, yes, 1 hour). The time it takes to simply taxi, wait in the takeoff line, possible delays (which happens more often than not on the small planes I fly), 40 minute flight time, taxing again, then getting my checked bag. It all ends up taking almost equal time as simply driving there.

Guess what? It becomes a 4 hour ordeal to fly.

And you think none of those things will happen with a nationwide rail system?

[Masark]

Minneapolis to Los Angeles in around 16 hours? No thanks, I'll stick to the 3.5 to 4 hour flight.

4 hours plus several more at security and a complimentary colonoscopy.

[muto]

And you think none of those things will happen with a nationwide rail system?

Yep. I've ridden the Amtrak train several times, and they don't even check your luggage, plus I don't have to wait forever to get my luggage; I just pick it up on my off of the train. Also, with Amtrak you only need to arrive like 30 minutes ahead of time.

[Ult92]

And you think none of those things will happen with a nationwide rail system?

Nope. Highly unlikely. As I said, the train system is Japan is effective. Trains are always on time, delays are rare, you bring your bag with you. Don't have to wait in a security line. Even my experiences with Amtrak (which sucks) have been more more pleasant than the fights. You just get to the station 20-30 minutes before, board, and then get off.

Last month I had my flight diverted from DC to Philadelphia mid-air (because of weather problems), and then I was just on my own to take a train or flight to Dulles (the other, farther away airport). Very stressful. I was supposed to arrive in DC at 8:00 AM (6:40 AM fight). Left for the airport at 4:30 AM and didn't get in to downtown DC until 3PM. Nightmare.

[Jaggid]

I actually consider the economic implications of such a high speed rail network. The ability to travel 220 miles in an hour opens up longer commutes for individuals in rural and urban areas, allowing companies to open outside of these big cities lowering operating costs and creating more jobs. This also forces major cities to stay competitive, really interesting if it happens could be great. Planes are great but train technology is far from done.

[Naxere]

Nope. Highly unlikely. As I said, the train system is Japan is effective. Trains are always on time, delays are rare, you bring your bag with you. Don't have to wait in a security line. Even my experiences with Amtrak (which sucks) has been more more pleasant than the fights.

Last month I had my flight diverted from DC to Philadelphia (because of weather problems), and then I was just on my own to take a train the rest of the way. Very stressful. I was supposed to arrive in DC at 8:00 AM (6:40 AM fight). Left for the airport at 4:30 AM and didn't get in to downtown DC until 3PM. Nightmare.

You just get to the station 20-30 minutes before, board, and then get off.

We are not Japan.

[Deleted]

Train > flying even in Finland. Hell, train > bus here. If only there were tracks to every town. Also, train is almost half the cost of a bus ride here. I don't know how it's over there, but 50% the cost, come on.

Also, I've only had bad experiences at airports in Finland, and we're talking about Finland and Finnair here. Should be quality shit, but you'd be wrong.

[Talokami]

It's already being built or 100% planned to be built between San Francisco and LA. They want to grow it out even more, basically make all of California have their own high speed. I feel like it would work in California very well. I could see it working very well on the east coast as well, though due to population, building such a track would be difficult, it's very outdated..

I don't see a cross-country one really.. I would imagine it would be cheaper to fly from LA to Texas or east coast to west coast.


I'm all for it though, we could use the infrastructure improved.

P.S. If our score is a D-, then I guess the rest of the world is completely failing.

Unfortunately, the high speed rail in California is going to be in limbo for years at this point. The price tag keeps going up and they're still in the planning and designing stage. It's, not surprisingly, being very badly managed. Even if it does get off the ground, there's a vocal group of residents who are convinced the rail line is going to cut straight through their properties and overburden the area with more human traffic.

I don't think they'll even start digging for another two years at the earliest.

[Ult92]

We are not Japan.

Now don't know if troll. The point of this thread is that we want to become like Japan. Or Europe, for that matter.

Or I suppose we can just make due with the crap we have because, oh yes, "we are not Japan." This is the US, I guess there's just no way we can beat other advanced, post industrialized democracies at anything (except defense spending).

[Dasffion]

We are not Japan.

Obviously...Did you have a point other than stating the obvious?

[GennGreymane]

alternative to flying, worth it.

[Reeve]

Unfortunately, the high speed rail in California is going to be in limbo for years at this point. The price tag keeps going up and they're still in the planning and designing stage. It's, not surprisingly, being very badly managed. Even if it does get off the ground, there's a vocal group of residents who are convinced the rail line is going to cut straight through their properties and overburden the area with more human traffic.

I don't think they'll even start digging for another two years at the earliest.

Well too bad for them. Eminent domain, suckas!

[Korgoth]

Did no one see the legend? I am not taking a 16 hr train to New York over a 6 hr flight.

[Reeve]

Did no one see the legend? I am not taking a 16 hr train to New York over a 6 hr flight.

Right. Just like you're not going to try to walk from Japan to San Francisco. You use the right tool for the right job. Trains are great for a sleeper overnight trip, or for a shorter distance trip, or for enjoying the view of the countryside while you travel, or for comfort while traveling. That doesn't mean it completely and totally replaces air travel for some trips.

[Talokami]

Well too bad for them. Eminent domain, suckas!

Yeah well it's going to end in San Francisco, so you can be assured someone will be there to protest it.

Actually, reading up on the saga of the California High Speed Rail is a great example of why a project like this just is not going to work in the present socio-political climate.

The original plan was proposed in 2008 and has turned into a massive clusterfuck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Califo...igh-Speed_Rail.