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When will the US develop a thorough passenger rail system? I recently checked for a train from Denver to Phoenix. Nada. What a shame!
tarheelman Member # 6095
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That's a good question. Based on the information I've been able to find about modern, high speed rail service in this country, the answer boils down to a combination of politics and consumer demand. There have been some attempts at establishing a good high speed rail network in the past fifteen years, but they've all failed either due to politics or perceived lack of demand. (Of these, Texas and Florida came the closest to actually building a network for HSR.)
Here's a link to an article I found that does a good job of presenting a reasonably unbiased account of the reasons why the U.S. doesn't have HSR service.
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Right now going from Denver to Phoenix is about the worst possible route you can plan, other than riding a full day on a bus, you can switch trains in Chicago (yes, Chicago!) and then make it to Flagstaff, which is another 2 hour bus ride to phoenix. Once your there, not sure what to do, Phoenix is very spread out and auto oriented, it takes a good 45 minute drive to get anywhere.
It sounds like their going to vote in CA for hsr, hopefully. its looking something like a $40 billion project. Here in CO their going not so much high speed but any service at all with a new Ranger Express that just came about in the last few years and may make it to the ballot this year, right now DMU's is looking to be the preferred choice on 2 routes, one east/west from Utah border to Denver, and one North/South from the Wyoming border to New Mexico to tie in with Rail Runner with service all the way to Albuquerque. Their focus is on multiple trips per day and anything faster travel time than our (very poor) interstate system (especially in any kind of winter weather and every weekend pretty much) Right now going through the mountains on I70 can take anywhere from 3-4 hours all the way to 6-10 hours during ski traffic. A train running even as fast as 65-75mph would cut this down to 2 - 3 hours, their goal is traveling at 90 mph on the straight stretches.
I am really hoping this gets off the ground and may contribute to the campaign, right now it seems to be such a great thing going (almost every town on the routes are all for it). Who knows, they may decide to spend the extra $$ and go for electrified rail, everyone here is all for emission free.
ellenorigby Member # 9414
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I recently read an article that said the U.S. was too large a country to make high speed rail service work. Where in Europe it can work since the areas they travel are smaller. Any truth to this what do you think? Plus don't forget how much of our train tracks have been converted to trails.....
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by ellenorigby: I recently read an article that said the U.S. was too large a country to make high speed rail service work. Where in Europe it can work since the areas they travel are smaller. Any truth to this what do you think?
excuses, excuses, excuses, we hear them every day . . .
Roger Hensley Member # 1374
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High Speed rail can work here. It is merely a matter of thinking that it can. A rail system can be built if we just start on it. The longer it takes to start, the longer it will take.
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