Comments on: Obama's High-Speed Rail Network

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Which of these is too vast a distance? The longest distance on there that I see is SF-LA, which will be in 2 1/2 hrs, because the California HSR will be going at a top speed of 220mph (we don't have to imagine that). What we should be imagining is this theoretical 5000 mph train under the Atlantic. That would be quite a spectacular crash....

By: serial catowner

serial catowner — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That’s a pretty realistic map of what might be possible in the near future. Some of the other maps associated with Obama’s rhetoric weren’t quite so restrained.

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There are no other maps that I’ve seen associated with Obama’s rhetoric. They keep showing this one over and over.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Yup, this is the only one I’ve seen, too. And even this is presented as a “vision,” not a tangible plan (and certainly not a plan with a funding mechanism). But it does get the conversation going.

By: serial catowner

serial catowner — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There were other maps, but probably not official ones, shown when the announcement was made. I remember being impressed with how insane it would be to imagine The Pioneer reincarnated as a high-speed train.

Yesterday, however, I searched high and low. Bad news- no definitive map. Good news- several regional organizations with good maps showing likely corridors. A search on whitehouse.org returns nothing for “high-speed rail”.

To be continued…

By: joshuadf

joshuadf — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That's a funny thing to say. A lot of these trains were famous for their speed at the time. For example, the Burlington Zephyr set a Chicago-Denver speed record in 1934, averaging 77 mph. The trip took 13 hours and 5 minutes. One could theoretically fly from ORD to DEN in 3 hours 35 minutes for $243 next Monday on United. Considering that both of those airports are a good hike outside the city center, I've got to think HSR traveling at double the speed of the Zephyr (roughly 150 mph) could be very competitive if done right. For good measure, Google Maps says it's 1001 mi and would take 14 hours 35 minutes to drive. There is roughly zero scenery along the way unless you count corn. I've got an aunt in Davenport so I've seen the corn already.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s the official HSR vision on Whitehouse.gov:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/16/a-vision-for-high-speed-rail/