Why build High Speed Rail for passengers? SF/LA's 6 airports have 50 flights daily, twice as fast, half price.

Question

The six airports are far more convenient than the single terminal at major cities which require all to converge to one station. This will add to the travel time.

San Francisco and Oakland Airports are linked with high speed BART and San Jose may be linked in 5 years. New turboprop planes will lower airplane fares by 20 percent and increase flight times by about only 10 minutes. Current jets cruise at a higher altitude only for a short time. Climbing fast uses a lot more fuel than flying at cruising speed.

There are no credible estimates of the rail fare, it may be twice the cost of jets. Trains will carry about 500 people, planes carry about 100 which increses frequency and convenience.

Train noise at high speeds will carry for miles.

Answer 1

You're leaving the cost of fuel out of the equation.