What are the chances the U.S. will ever have high speed rail service?

Question

What are the chances the U.S. will ever have high speed rail service?

Answer 1

Outside of the Northeast Corridor, which runs between roughly Richmond and Boston, I would be highly surprised to see passenger rail operations anywhere else in the country exceeding 100 mph for at least the next 10-20 years.  Amtrak is a case in point.  The carrier is perennially underfunded by Congress, ever since it began in 1971, only receiving little more than enough annually to pay for its cost of capital (and yes indeed, it also operates over the private freight railroads' tracks).  

The problem is essentially two-fold.  First, many folks in Congress do not have a clear understanding of passenger rail service and operations, it is almost never profitable (even when private railroads operated passenger trains it was rarely profitable, especially during the latter years) although they keep believing that in some way it should and will be.  Second is simply the mindset here in America, many folks would rather jump in their car and travel to their destination rather than take the train.    

Having said that, though, whether highspeed train service eventually catches on here or not (my guess is that it will, someday), passenger rail service in general will continue to grow and prosper and relied upon (outside of Amtrak a number of states are beginning to lead the way in commuter rail, such as California and North Carolina) as our nation's highways continue to become more and more overcrowded  (per fuel mile, nothing is more efficient at moving folks or freight than trains).

Answer 2

I agree with the others and saying that nationwide high speed rail is unlikely. However certain routes could definitely have this. California will likely build it which would be great. I'd love to see the Northeast Corridor revamped to be even faster for more of the journey as parts are very slow. You could definitely build lots of shorter lines connecting two large cities with several smaller ones in between. For example going across Ohio from Cincy to Cleveland stopping in other places. Or from NYC to upstate NY stopping along the way. Or in Texas connecting the major cities.

Answer 3

Across country? If that's what you mean, I'd say not very good. Amtrak doesn't even run on their own tracks and the cost of buying land and building track is not cost effective.

Just look at Amtrak's ridership on average, no wonder the government subsidizes them. If you really want high speed rail I think it would have to be elevated above ground, just think of the cost of that.

I've rode Amtrak before, I thought it was enjoyable but it doesn't go to to a lot of places people need or want to go.

Answer 4

Outside of commuter operations, I'd be willing to bet OJ finds the "real" killer before we see extensive high speed railroad.

Answer 5

Boston-Washington?  Chances are 100% since it already has it.

Sacramento - L.A.?  Chances are probably half and half.

Across the whole country?  EVER? 100%... in the next 20 years?  Slim, but depends a LOT on oil prices and the environment.  If either of those heads south in a bad way... we'll get on it...

Answer 6

I doubt we will see it cross country. It would have to be elevated. Too many people and cars get hit with trains traveling 50 mph, imagine how many there would be if traveling in excess of 100 mph.

Also, Americans will never give up their cars, regardless of the price of gas.

In Europe businesses are built close to public transportation, the Europeans have always used it. In America, businesses do not (for the most part) consider public transportation when deciding where to locate. We have not had to depend on it.

The whole mindset of the American culture would have to be changed for public transportation to be effective and that would take many years.

Answer 7

How does a speed of 220 mph sound?

I'd say the chances are excellent....

especially since the California High Speed Rail Authority has been planning high-speed rail for almost a decade.

This is close to reality and the proposed system stretches from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento in the north -- with service to the Central Valley -- to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south. With bullet trains operating at speeds up to 220 mph, the express travel time from downtown San Francisco to Los Angeles is just under 2 ½ hours.

Here's more information...

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/

FACTOID: The world speed record for a conventional wheeled train was set by a French TGV that reached a speed of 574.8 km/h (357 mph) on April 3, 2007.

The current unofficial world speed record for a train of any type, 581 km/h (361 mph), was reached by the experimental Japanese JR-Maglev MLX01 magnetic levitation train.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_...

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