Dave Smith Wrote:
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.....
> Finally, no HSR
> system in the world could ever match the speed of
> flying, so passenger-only HSR is DOA in terms of
> actual improvement of transit time.
>

HSR rail does not need to run at the 500+ mph that a jet might fly to be able to improve transit time. What counts is total trip time, beginning to endpoint. Time spent traveling to the airport, time wasted at [in]security lines (including allowances for longer than normal lines), and traveling from the destination airport to your final destination are all part of the trip. Odds are that the airports are out of the way compared to the train station, usually near downtown.


from this link: [www.discovery.org]
"Since Amtrak introduced higher speed Acela trains in 2000, the railroad's share of the 10,000 daily plane or train passengers traveling between Washington and New York has grown to 54% from 45%."

The airlines generally offer hourly shuttle service in this market. Clearly a lot of customers (50%+) feel that Amtrak/Acela (even at current speeds) is very competitive compared to flying. Also, if you are a businessperson, cell phone and computer use is permissible for the entire rail trip. If you fly, put the phone away completely, and even laptop use is limited to only certain portions of the flight.