USA finally getting High speed Railway, starting with California - Polidicks

[QUOTE=BldrGyMnGy;36690553]Sweet, I drive an hour to LA, then take a train up the state? It better not cost a buttfuck to ride.[/QUOTE] It will. I have a train near me. To go from Milwaukee to Chicago it costs me $48 round trip. It costs me 10 dollars in gas, and I'm not restricted by the departure times. Train work much better in cities and smaller countries. There isn't going to be a cheap way to go 100s, maybe, 1000s of miles.

I really hope this does happen. Driving through California's middle valley area is boring as shit. If I could take the train from San Diego to San Francisco I'd be so happy. Even if it does take a long time and cost a bit much, it is still worth it in my opinion.

Transit for the US is absolutely terrible. In Atlanta we have a thing called the MARTA which is sort of like a shitty version of the Italian Metro system. The problem is that the state was going to extend it out to some of the smaller cities about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta but a lot of the local population, and I kid you not, said, "We don't want you bringing dem niggers out here." It would have been amazing to have MARTA out close to where I live; it would make getting to the city much more convenient.

Even better news, a French TGV company has already made an offer to help consult on line construction! (and hopefully run trains on the line in the future) [url]http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-advice-20120709,0,4539140.story[/url] Granted CHSR turned them down because they want to get the first leg built first before letting other people in. However, the fact that a major HSR company wants in this early is a very good sign for the future of CHSR!

Oh well finally jesus christ.

Okay, I have a few things to clear up before we get more idiots complaining about how their taxes are going to go up. First, the money was already put aside to pay for this over three years ago. Second, China has offered to pay for the [B]whole damn thing[/B], and California officials are looking at letting them pay for most of it. Secondly, there is a pretty good reason as to why we don't use trains as much as we should. In the 1950's, as cars became more and more popular, companies such as GM began buying up the light rail systems and demolishing them for bus lines. This was occurring at the same time our MASSIVE highway systems were being built. Our highway systems will get you anywhere in the country, whereas you can only go so far in a train. It's been this way since the 50's. Fortunately, we're beginning to turn this around. If you look at it, the majority of major cities and secondary cities in the US are getting light rail systems, and while it hasn't been much in the news, the majority of the AMTRAK lines in the East Coast are being upgraded to 160mph as we speak. The California line will just be the first [I]original[/I] line (not simply rail lines being upgraded) that will be in our country. There is a private company called Rail Xpress which is been approved for putting in a line from Vegas to Los Angeles, and there are private investors looking at making a line between Tucson and Phoenix. Arizona has petitioned the Obama Administration for funds for high speed rail multiple times, but we've always been denied (since 2001 in fact).

Huge gamble, but if it has to go ahead, then I'm interested in seeing how it turns out. I'd be pretty amazed if all the projections are wrong and this thing is somehow successful.

[QUOTE=Vasili;36689500]it was the dumb idea for the US to completely dig up most of its railways in general[/QUOTE] We did? Because I kind of remember driving across about 3 train tracks on my way home.

But America already has a high speed rail line, the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acela_Express"]Northeast Corridor[/URL]. [IMG]http://www.american-rails.com/images/AMTRK_WM_Acela.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;36689744]It's like you don't realize California taxes the fuck out of everything. Sales tax, gas taxes, real estate taxes, property taxes. This is the most expensive state to live in within the United States.[/QUOTE] Come to Norway. See if your measly $3-4/gallon gas can compete with our $11/gallon gas, or our 25% sales tax alongside an already added import fee. Or go to Sweden and enjoy a 60% income tax.

I voted for Proposition 1A (the proposition to allow this high speed rail); so I really hope it happens. There is, however, a lot of rumors that this project might be abandoned mid construction. All we'll end up with is a few rail lines linking small farming communities.

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;36689744]I love it when Europeans claim their taxes are high but don't understand that taxes [b]and[/b] someones standard of living go hand in hand. I'm poor bitch. [editline]9th July 2012[/editline] It's like you don't realize California taxes the fuck out of everything. Sales tax, gas taxes, real estate taxes, property taxes. This is the most expensive state to live in within the United States.[/QUOTE] Are you really implying that you live worse in the United States than in Europe? Because they are pretty much equal imo

[QUOTE=commander204;36691144]Are you really implying that you live worse in the United States than in Europe? Because they are pretty much equal imo[/QUOTE] Depends on the country, standard of living fluctuates from country to country, and a bit from state to state albeit much less than country to country in Europe.

[QUOTE=ep9832;36691104]But America already has a high speed rail line, the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acela_Express"]Northeast Corridor[/URL]. [IMG]http://www.american-rails.com/images/AMTRK_WM_Acela.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]Not true "high speed rail" NEC Acela trains can reach 150 MPH on a stretch of track between Boston and New York, but the trains average just 84 MPH. For perspective French TGV trains average about 175MPH+

the state of our railways is just pitiful

[QUOTE=mac338;36691106]Come to Norway. See if your measly $3-4/gallon gas can compete with our $11/gallon gas, or our 25% sales tax alongside an already added import fee. Or go to Sweden and enjoy a 60% income tax.[/QUOTE] Are you too stupid to understand that I'm poor? My family can barely get by and you twats compare taxes like it's a joke? We all have to pay taxes, but the poor suffer no matter where you are.

[QUOTE=Upgrade123;36689651]I never got why America doesn't use trains as much as other countries.[/QUOTE] Because Texas alone is almost the size of France, and nearly three times bigger than the UK. Personally I would love to see us have a high speed rail system but it's going to take forever and be fucking expensive. They should make a rail that goes from LA to San Fran to Vegas to Oklahoma City then branches off to New York and Dallas to Houston. Then have it run down the east coast. But that would probably cost trillions of dollars and take a few decades to finish.

[QUOTE=commander204;36691144]Are you really implying that you live worse in the United States than in Europe? Because they are pretty much equal imo[/QUOTE] Yes. You don't know a fucking thing about me but you're willing to compare because it's simple for you huh?

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;36691288]Are you too stupid to understand that I'm poor? My family can barely get by and you twats compare taxes like it's a joke? We all have to pay taxes, but the poor suffer no matter where you are.[/QUOTE] See if your taxes were higher you wouldn't have to worry about stuff like healthcare, and if you were poor you'd receive welfare packages. That's the magic of the 'Robin Hood' welfare system in Scandinavia. But it requires high taxes.

I love my state.

here's for jerry: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW8UlY8eXCk[/media]

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;36691317]Yes. You don't know a fucking thing about me but you're willing to compare because it's simple for you huh?[/QUOTE] Dude just relax, you're getting all worked up over a comment on an internet forum. You're jumping to conclusions and going to make a fool out of yourself.

Given complete control, I'd drastically reduce the American prison population and abolish private prisons. The remaining prisoners however would be devoted to super projects within the US. The overwhelming majority of which would be constant railway construction. As it stands, we simply aren't capable of large scale projects anymore. We'd never manage another highway network or even another hoover dam. This little segment of railway has a ridiculous price tag and will likely go over budget. There is no way we can pay this price tag for a railway of sufficient size at a national scale.

[QUOTE=GunFox;36691508]Given complete control, I'd drastically reduce the American prison population and abolish private prisons. The remaining prisoners however would be devoted to super projects within the US. The overwhelming majority of which would be constant railway construction. As it stands, we simply aren't capable of large scale projects anymore. We'd never manage another highway network or even another hoover dam. This little segment of railway has a ridiculous price tag and will likely go over budget. There is no way we can pay this price tag for a railway of sufficient size at a national scale.[/QUOTE] I'd be all for that, but some people might consider that slavery. There was a debate about this in mass debate a while back.

[QUOTE=OvB;36691290]Because Texas alone is almost the size of France, and nearly three times bigger than the UK. Personally I would love to see us have a high speed rail system but it's going to take forever and be fucking expensive. They should make a rail that goes from LA to San Fran to Vegas to Oklahoma City then branches off to New York and Dallas to Houston. Then have it run down the east coast. But that would probably cost trillions of dollars and take a few decades to finish.[/QUOTE]Texas is perfect for HSR as most of its big cities are along I-35. The line could start in San Antonio heading up north with the first stop at Austin. Then somewhere between Austin and Waco the track splits off at a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wye_(rail)]Wye[/url] with one line heading toward Collage Station and then onto Houston. The other line would then head up north with another Wye splitting the train up between the terminal stations at Dallas and Fort Worth. Future lines could include a direct Houston to San Antonio line, direct Houston to Dallas and Fort Worth line, and even a Dallas to Fort Worth line with a stop at Arlington. While it may cost a lot of dosh to start its cheaper then just building another highway or another runway.

[QUOTE=QuikKill;36691418]Dude just relax, you're getting all worked up over a comment on an internet forum. You're jumping to conclusions and going to make a fool out of yourself.[/QUOTE] Jumping to conclusions? I'm trying to explain myself to the fullest extent I can and it's really just a bitch to do that. They talk about taxes like it's just a simple thing, but how they compare it doesn't even do justice to my situation. I'm poor, live in the desert, am stuck on dial up, me and my dad can barely scrape by and when I mention about taxes going up, a very real thing for me, my counterparts on this forum from the other side of the world want to nitpick about how much I have to pay in order to live my shit life. I think it's ridiculous that we can't understand each other and fucking AGREE on things instead of finding little shit to pick at others.

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;36691624]Jumping to conclusions? I'm trying to explain myself to the fullest extent I can and it's really just a bitch to do that. They talk about taxes like it's just a simple thing, but how they compare it doesn't even do justice to my situation. I'm poor, live in the desert, am stuck on dial up, me and my dad can barely scrape by and when I mention about taxes going up, a very real thing for me, my counterparts on this forum from the other side of the world want to nitpick about how much I have to pay in order to live my shit life. I think it's ridiculous that we can't understand each other and fucking AGREE on things instead of finding little shit to pick at others.[/QUOTE] But when you're poor, that's when higher taxes benefit you, at least in welfare states. Also dude calm down.

[QUOTE=mac338;36691668]But when you're poor, that's when higher taxes benefit you, at least [b]in welfare states[/b]. Also dude calm down.[/QUOTE] Your tax system can't apply to me unless it actually gets implemented. Quit telling me I'd be better if this was like this because it's not. Why does everyone think I'm getting pissed when all I'm trying to do is reason this out. I know I curse here and there but who the fuck doesn't?

[QUOTE=Political Gamer;36691197]Not true "high speed rail" NEC Acela trains can reach 150 MPH on a stretch of track between Boston and New York, but the trains average just 84 MPH. For perspective French TGV trains average about 175MPH+[/QUOTE]Call it timing but it looks like Amtrak wants to bump of the NEC to 220MPH [url]http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120709_Amtrak_s_high-speed_Northeast_Corridor_plan_at__151_billion.html[/url] This would mean Boston/Washington to New York would take only 94~ minutes and Philadelphia to New York would take 37~ minutes. To put this in other context it would effectively put airlines out of business [url=http://flights.expedia.com/Flights_tfaOJFK_DPHL.htm]in[/url] [url=http://flights.expedia.com/Flights_tfaODCA_DJFK.htm]those[/url] [url=http://flights.expedia.com/Flights_tfaOBOS_DJFK.htm]areas[/url]

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