Will there ever be a high speed train in the U.S.?

Question

Will there ever be a high speed train in the U.S.?

Answer 1

That would be wonderful. But I'm sad to say probably not likely. Why? Well the big oil companys, tire companys, Unions, etc etc, basically any compnay thats reliant on air lines or trucking or automobiles are paying off politicians so they do NOT promote rail passenger service in the US. This has been going on since during the second world war. From that point on the US rail passenger business has slowly been dismantled and crippled. Have you ever tried to take a train from New York to LA? You can, but it will cost an insane amount of money, and nearly a weeks time. Example: What ever happened to grabbing the Pennsylvania Limited in NYC and getting to Chicago in 3 hours straight across the state of PA? NOT, they have the routes so chopped up you have to go to Washington DC then cut across then up and it takes two days. Its a huge conspiracy, and unless the people start screaming bloody murder to have change, its not going to happen.

Answer 2

We've been talking about building one in California for years and there is a High Speed rail Commision.  We were suppose to vote on a bond measure but our Governor keeps postponing it b/c he wants to pass other transportation related bonds.  It was looking good for a while but the commision's budget is now being slashed and we still don't know when we'll be able to vote on a bond measure to build the d**n system. CA desperately needs high speed rail and I think it will eventually get it.  But it's just taking sometime and poltical will to get it done.   We are ready to start designing and building this d**n thing, we just need the money and the go ahead.  Go to this site and look up more :http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/

Also I know other regions like Florida and the Northwest want to start up high speed rail.

Answer 3

No, because the government doesn't want to invest to create and maintain a high speed rail system.

Once the U.S ends up in World War III, the government will finally realize how helpful a High Speed Rail System really is and then the government will build a High Speed Rail System in America.

Answer 4

Well, if you're talking about DC to Boston in less than 2.5 hours at speeds like France's TGV, the answer is never unless the US runs out of oil and then coal powered electricity would power the high speed trains.

In terms of DC to LA in 5 hours via MAGLEV or some uninvented rapid transit system - not in anyone's lifetime.

Amtrak's ACELA Express averages 90 MPH between DC and NYC and 70 MPH between NYC and Boston.  The Feds are aiming for 5 hours travel time between DC and Boston but the Feds do not wish to spend the money on the necessay upgrades....

Answer 5

Some day it's a very good idea id doesn't make much exhaust and can travel quite fast i predict there will be a high speed cross country train in the U.S by 2013.

Answer 6

i don't think so

the U.S. mostly only reasons in terms of near-term economic value. This works well in many instances. But it fails to work in the case of a rail project that needs a special and very expensive infrastructure.

because the economic returns on that infrastructure are not just in the form of passenger revenue - but also in the form of all the other benefits to society as a whole (all those people leaving and arriving on time, being able to work comfortably instead of waiting for hours on the tarmac; and all this lower pollution).

so the only way you can have an infrastructure build for TGV-style trains, is if the government makes this a priority.

Of course the US government does have the money (it has spent over 100bn on the war in Iraq). But as far as I can tell, it does not intend to support high-speed trains.

Which is too bad:

- imagine doing LA to San Fran in just under 2 hours, in a TGV averaging 200mph on the trip, with all-productive time, wi-fi, nice working space, you name it.

- imagine doing NYC to Boston in 65 minutes

- imagine doing NYC to Washington DC in 1h10min

Answer 7

Someday, maybe, but not in God's lifetime............

Answer 8

no

Answer 9

The fastest train ever recorded topped its speed up to 303 mph in France