Re: Noted dates for HSR
Author: LES
Date: 07-12-2021 - 09:22
If only one more section is financed the remainder of this decade it will be one of 3 choices (assumptions: HSD will be developed sooner rather than later and Brightline begins construction)
1) Bakersfield to Palmdale
2) Pacheco pass
3) Palmdale to Burbank
Which makes more sense.
#1 offers 250 miles of hsr performance, but misses out on decent endpoints. Also Metrolink
is the best rail connection for the time being.
#2 offers 283 miles of hsr performance with decent endpoints of SF and Bakersfield/Fresno
but not politically kosher given SCs political dynamics (not the sharpest
politicians or board members from SC these days); also requires significant local
investment in Gilroy to SF
#3 offers Brightline a straight shot to LA but leaves CV link dangling.
FUD Wrote:
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> Agree that in the South Burbank is the appropriate
> first-stage terminus. Palmdale is just too far
> away, whatever you do to patch up Metrolink's
> tracks. Caltrain is more or less straight, and
> even the present diesel-powered limited-stop runs
> can do SF-SJ in about an hour; an upgraded
> commuter railroad with some extra tracks can do
> the job for a long time. That's not the case in
> the south. Metrolink, of course, would be happy to
> use HSR money for track upgrades and
> electrification, but Palmdale is still 62 miles
> driving distance (and more, curvy, rail miles)
> from downtown LA. Metrolink currently takes more
> than 2 hours, though that of course includes many
> stops; but it's just not suitable even for
> moderately high speed use.