Why Is There No High Speed Rail Network In America? Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't...

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

America is big. Decisions were made to invest in major road systems and air transportation.
The rails were left to freight.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

mas24 wrote:

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

Waste of money, no one would use it. I can fly faster and not waste travel time going there. 600 mph beats all trains no matter how fast.

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

It also was a union question, and a defense question, the Interstate, which birthed the truck freight explosion. It's still evolving.

erinjay64

Auto makers spend billions opposing it.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

mas24 wrote:

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

Country is just too big and spread out. Rider density too low. We own cars and are used to driving.
Get on a train in San Francisco and ride to New York. In Europe that would be London to Western Siberia. In Japan it would be about twice around Honshu, the largest island.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

robertjerl wrote:

Country is just too big and spread out. Rider density too low. We own cars and are used to driving.
Get on a train in San Francisco and ride to New York. In Europe that would be London to Western Siberia. In Japan it would be about twice around Honshu, the largest island.

The same question has been asked in Canada and the answer is the same.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

It works in Europe (especially in France - and I hate having to admit how well they've done it) because the countries are smaller. It competes very well with the suburban routes but really scores because you go city centre to city centre rather than have to get additional transport either end. And Europe is more pro green than the U.S.

You could build the network and use it for inter city, but not across the states yet. Perhaps when maglev with sustainable 350mph trains become a reality........

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

mas24 wrote:

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

Myself, I would prefer to travel by rail. You can relax and look at this beautiful country especially the west. New terminals and rail system would probably be too expensive but I would like to see it.

Rich

EdB

Having been to Europe and visiting 9 countries, their transportation system is excellent. We have let our rails go to rot by not investing. There is talk in PA to have a high speed line between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Phili. It will no nowhere because the House and Senate refuse to invest in any meaningful program unless they make money on it. Our roads are falling apart too, but again, no investment is forthcoming.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

EdB wrote:

Having been to Europe and visiting 9 countries, their transportation system is excellent. We have let our rails go to rot by not investing. There is talk in PA to have a high speed line between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Phili. It will no nowhere because the House and Senate refuse to invest in any meaningful program unless they make money on it. Our roads are falling apart too, but again, no investment is forthcoming.

Who and why would anyone travel that route. If it were economically viable private enterprise would have done it.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

mas24 wrote:

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

We had this discussion a month or so ago about high speed lines in the Northeast. I love trains (especially the older diesel and steam trains) but I would not spend 3-4 hours on a train going from Washington to Boston when I can fly it in an hour to an hour and a half for the same or less money. Same for going across the country. Trains are great for hauling freight and for scenic railway, but they have been replaced by air travel. With air travel, they don't have to purchase (or steal as the railroads did in the 1800's and early 1900's) right of way rights. And the property in the Northeast / New England area is very expensive to raze for tracks. And, I'm sure it is in other places too.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

dcampbell52 wrote:

We had this discussion a month or so ago about hig... (show quote)

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

mas24 wrote:

Have you ever seen photos, in the photo gallery on this forum, and see those beautiful giant terminals overseas. And say, why can't America do that. Or would it just be a waste of money if we did? http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2016/03/why-there-still-no-high-speed-rail-network-america

The automobile lobbies are too powerful!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

You can basically blame President Dwight Eisenhauer who, right after World War II was deciding where to invest taxpayer dollars in American infrastructure. Just before the war, he was involved in an exercise mot move a large number of American troops and equipment coast to coast across the country...it took two months. During the war, he was amazed at how fast the Germans moved troops and equipment on their Autobahn. After the war, he decided to recreate the Autobahn as the Interstate Highway System, thinking that in another war, he would be able to do the same as Germany. It no doubt helped that Henry Ford was a personal friend and advisor to the President, too. Anyway, the rest is history; as one UHH writer put it the rail system was left to freight movement and was supposed to be self-supporting. Instead, the whole rail infrastructure was allowed to slowly degenerate to the point where now, we can't afford to bring it up to a decent enough condition to make passenger rail travel attractive.