Does America need high speed rail?

Question

Does America need high speed rail?

Answer 1

OK... From where to where?  How much is it going to cost, and how many airplanes can carry the same number of passengers three times as fast to the same destination?

The United States is a HUGE country, and while high-speed rail works fine on short runs in small countries like Japan, France or England, it would not be practical for crossing the North American continent.  Passenger airplanes are much more efficient and cost much less to operate and maintain.

Answer 2

I don't think it would be preactical to make a high speed rail system that goes across the whole U.S. but it might be good to have a few small rail systems connecting clusters of big cities. I think Jersey city-NYC-Philly railroad would be good. and maybe a highspeed rail that went from Boston- Hartford- NYC. I live near hartford CT, and i have to drive all the way to the southern part of the state if i want to take a train to NYC and it isn't a very fast train.

Answer 3

I say yes.  Use it to link major cities like Chicago,LA,New York, Indianapolis, and stay away from the smaller cities adding to many small cities will push the cost up.

Answer 4

Yes you do for inter city travel particularly for distances up to 400 miles. You reduce pollution from planes and  reduce air and road congestion around airports; you get direct city centre to city centre journeys without the hassles of taxis from airports to and from city centres; you can work on the train; you don't have to endure long queues for check in and security.

Answer 5

I seriously think yes it does.

High speed rail is not cheap but neither is continued subsidizing of low or no profit airline routes.

We really need options and especially when you consider the fuel and emission benefits.

For long travel air is and probably always be a very good option but when you consider the hassle at air terminals, the commute to and from the airports, the whole baggage issue, short and intermediate rail travel looks better and better.

Answer 6

We should start investing soon.  Oil prices will become increasingly expensive in the future and most high speed rail trains are electric, thus giving us much more flexibility in how they are powered.   Relatively short city to city flights such as San Francisco to LA should be replaced by rail.  As oil prices become more expensive, economics will ensure that these types of routes start to receive much more use and become more vital.

Answer 7

sure but no one will use it. people are too car crzsy here and spend $3.00 a gallon.

used to work for public transit and it is not a popular way to travel and it is not dependable and it is oveprices.

so high speed rail will be just another failure.

las vegas mono rail $9.00 one day pass. no one uses it for what reason. poor performance.

Answer 8

Certainly does.  The sooner the better.

Answer 9

Yes, as an alternative to travel by air and highway both of which are swolen with excess traffic!

Answer 10

@jetdoc: it wouldn't have to cross the whole continent; how about city-to-city connections along the coasts? E.g. Boston - NY - Philadelphia - Washington or San Francisco - LA - Phoenix would be ideal distances for high speed rail. Plus the population density along these routes is rather high too.

Answer 11

Yes it does, for a country of America's size, the rail system is definately not up to standard and quite archaic in comparison to many European countries, and even many much poorer countries.

Answer 12

why not

Answer 13

It wouldn't be a bad idea,   and could greatly help in many areas.

However,  the distances would make building cost-prohibitive in many traffic lanes.

Answer 14

Yes.

Answer 15

yes

Answer 16

right thru Uncle Sam's chest...yes!

.

Answer 17

Europe has one, why not us?? Yes we do.

Answer 18

Benefits:

Less time to cross US from CA to NY or VA or FL.

Faster cargo capacity.

More jobs

Jobs in towns along route.

Hi Tech RR

= to what Japan has run since the 1960s.

Made in the USA

24/7 Use.

Designed in the US or overseas.

Make AmTrack compete with airlines in Transcon flights.

Link to other RR lines.

Radical

Long overdue & doable.