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Re: Laying tracks for high-speed rail in the U.S.
Author: Dragoman
Date: 03-13-2015 - 17:09
Margaret (SP fan) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Cuin bomo?" "Who benefits?" -- financially, first
> and
> foremost, from high-speed rail? THAT is why it
> is
> being built -- NOT to serve any real need for
> good,
> reliable rail transportation for most non-wealthy
> people, but, rather, to make land developers even
> richer. IF any of us ordinary people ever do
> benefit
> from this boondoggle, it will not be intentional.
> The banksters will make out like the bandit they
> are.
> Sigh.... I really wish the very wealthy people who
>
> are pushing for this actually had the old sense
> of
> "noblesse oblige" -- literally the obligation of
> the
> nobility, that hat the wealthy and privileged are
>
> obliged to help those less fortunate than they
> are.
>
> HSR puts the rail transportation cart far, far,
> far from
> the horse, when what is really needed is a much
> better
> and integrated (statewide) non-HSR rail system,
> with many
> more trains running from and to many more places
> --
> and all parts of which would be designed to
> connect
> well with all other parts.
Great thoughts, Margaret. You're absolutely right.
AND, your plan would require the active cooperation of UP, which has shown no interest whatsoever in doing so. They have flat-out told Caltrans that they will not even consider any new trains/routes "at this time". So, we can't even do the planning for a new train or two between LA and Palm Springs, or between LA and San Francisco on the otherwise only-lightly-used Coast Line. In the current environment, forget about "more trains running from and to many more places". That's the real tragedy here.
Unfortunately, what is needed is new, dedicated right-of-way. But no one will get excited enough about conventional passenger rail to fund that. But HSR is just exciting enough to just enough people to (maybe) make something happen.
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Cuin bomo?" "Who benefits?" -- financially, first
> and
> foremost, from high-speed rail? THAT is why it
> is
> being built -- NOT to serve any real need for
> good,
> reliable rail transportation for most non-wealthy
> people, but, rather, to make land developers even
> richer. IF any of us ordinary people ever do
> benefit
> from this boondoggle, it will not be intentional.
> The banksters will make out like the bandit they
> are.
> Sigh.... I really wish the very wealthy people who
>
> are pushing for this actually had the old sense
> of
> "noblesse oblige" -- literally the obligation of
> the
> nobility, that hat the wealthy and privileged are
>
> obliged to help those less fortunate than they
> are.
>
> HSR puts the rail transportation cart far, far,
> far from
> the horse, when what is really needed is a much
> better
> and integrated (statewide) non-HSR rail system,
> with many
> more trains running from and to many more places
> --
> and all parts of which would be designed to
> connect
> well with all other parts.
Great thoughts, Margaret. You're absolutely right.
AND, your plan would require the active cooperation of UP, which has shown no interest whatsoever in doing so. They have flat-out told Caltrans that they will not even consider any new trains/routes "at this time". So, we can't even do the planning for a new train or two between LA and Palm Springs, or between LA and San Francisco on the otherwise only-lightly-used Coast Line. In the current environment, forget about "more trains running from and to many more places". That's the real tragedy here.
Unfortunately, what is needed is new, dedicated right-of-way. But no one will get excited enough about conventional passenger rail to fund that. But HSR is just exciting enough to just enough people to (maybe) make something happen.
