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Re: HSR on the Peninsula, San Francisco to San Jose
Author: Plebe
Date: 08-20-2011 - 14:58
GRRR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Marty Bernard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The HSR would stop maybe
> > once between SF and SJ and, of course,
> connecting
> > with CalTrain in both cities for connectivity
> to
> > Peninsula towns.
>
> The first part of this sentence is the biggest
> misconception about HSR. HSR is meant as an
> alternative to short and medium haul airline
> travel, a true point to point system. It is not
> meant to replace any regular passenger rail, but
> to compliment it. If it stopped every 20, 30, 50
> or even maybe every 100 miles, then it wouldn't be
> HSR. That's what regular and express trains are
> for, which connect with HSR at its end points.
> Because of our geography, we would have to base
> our HSR system more on the European style, and not
> the Japanese commuter style. California HSR should
> be nonstop between L.A. and San Francisco, L.A and
> Sacremento, etc. and maybe have a different train
> that stops one time in the valley. All other
> cities would be served by upgraded "feeder" trains
> on regular rails. You don't see airliners stopping
> every 50 miles to get to their destinations.
Fair enough, HSR may be best used to serve as a transportation vehicle from point to point.
However, one of the questions this statement raises would be: why should the average plebe (ie Joe Six-Pack) be forced to pay taxes, lose physical property ownership and, in general, property values and etc. so a system such as proposed may be constructed which would the elite few can save an hour on their commute time.
While what you say may be true, I don't see where the overall social costs (ie loss of property) warrants the alleged benefits of a system that benefits the few.
From where I sit, a lower speed rail system that allows the plebes to access their desired destinations is far more important than a system that serves the elite.
Ultimately, this means...
if you want me to pay for it...
make it a local.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Marty Bernard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The HSR would stop maybe
> > once between SF and SJ and, of course,
> connecting
> > with CalTrain in both cities for connectivity
> to
> > Peninsula towns.
>
> The first part of this sentence is the biggest
> misconception about HSR. HSR is meant as an
> alternative to short and medium haul airline
> travel, a true point to point system. It is not
> meant to replace any regular passenger rail, but
> to compliment it. If it stopped every 20, 30, 50
> or even maybe every 100 miles, then it wouldn't be
> HSR. That's what regular and express trains are
> for, which connect with HSR at its end points.
> Because of our geography, we would have to base
> our HSR system more on the European style, and not
> the Japanese commuter style. California HSR should
> be nonstop between L.A. and San Francisco, L.A and
> Sacremento, etc. and maybe have a different train
> that stops one time in the valley. All other
> cities would be served by upgraded "feeder" trains
> on regular rails. You don't see airliners stopping
> every 50 miles to get to their destinations.
Fair enough, HSR may be best used to serve as a transportation vehicle from point to point.
However, one of the questions this statement raises would be: why should the average plebe (ie Joe Six-Pack) be forced to pay taxes, lose physical property ownership and, in general, property values and etc. so a system such as proposed may be constructed which would the elite few can save an hour on their commute time.
While what you say may be true, I don't see where the overall social costs (ie loss of property) warrants the alleged benefits of a system that benefits the few.
From where I sit, a lower speed rail system that allows the plebes to access their desired destinations is far more important than a system that serves the elite.
Ultimately, this means...
if you want me to pay for it...
make it a local.
