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Re: Ambitious New High-Speed Rail Plan Will Fly Americans To Japan To Use Their Trains
Author: Sgt. Joe Friday
Date: 10-15-2014 - 13:06
I have some doubts about the praticality of 200 MPH HSR.
People who want to travel point-to-point, and do it fast almost always fly. Traveling from LA to SFO, even at 200 MPH average speed, HSR would be an hour slower than flying, and you'd still have all the hassles like renting a car at your destination, etc. etc. To compete effectivly, the fares would have to be lower than Southwest's, to offset the fact that HSR is still 40% slower than flying. An old argument in favor of train travel, i.e. you get dropped off right in downtown, really doesn't matter much anymore, because the downtown area is seldom peoples' final destination nowadays.
If the intent is to get people out of their cars, then you don't need 200 MPH trains. What you need are trains that are somewhat faster than the service now, and they've got to be pleasant and convenient to use. If travel time from LA to Bakersfield could be brought down to 3.5 hours (average speed over the line 49 MPH) and the Bakersfield to Oakland segment brought down to 2.5 hours (120 MPH average) for a total time of 6 hours, that might get it done and you would not have to spend $70-100 billion for it.
People who want to travel point-to-point, and do it fast almost always fly. Traveling from LA to SFO, even at 200 MPH average speed, HSR would be an hour slower than flying, and you'd still have all the hassles like renting a car at your destination, etc. etc. To compete effectivly, the fares would have to be lower than Southwest's, to offset the fact that HSR is still 40% slower than flying. An old argument in favor of train travel, i.e. you get dropped off right in downtown, really doesn't matter much anymore, because the downtown area is seldom peoples' final destination nowadays.
If the intent is to get people out of their cars, then you don't need 200 MPH trains. What you need are trains that are somewhat faster than the service now, and they've got to be pleasant and convenient to use. If travel time from LA to Bakersfield could be brought down to 3.5 hours (average speed over the line 49 MPH) and the Bakersfield to Oakland segment brought down to 2.5 hours (120 MPH average) for a total time of 6 hours, that might get it done and you would not have to spend $70-100 billion for it.
