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| Science & Technology |
| California's Boondoggle High Speed Train |
| 2010-07-13 |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #3 Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design, a watchdog group that supports a rail project in principle but is critical of the Authority. Put me in that group. Part of the "magic" is the expectation that the train will make money. All transportation is subsidized. Let me say that again. All of it. Even toll roads would die without the network of crumbling city street and highways leading up to them. But they can make money, eventually. Many freight railroads were subsidized with worthless land 130 years ago, and got reduced rates from the Feds for 80+ years thereafter. But our privately-owned freight railways make more money that anywhere else in this solar system. The Northeast Corridor (DC to NYC) has made money on a cash basis and competes favorably with the airlines, carrying about the same number of passengers as planes. But it is still subsidized. I love the high-speed trains in France and Germany, but they ain't cheap. This ain't Eurpope (yet) and our transportation infrastructure was not been demolished by WW II. So more high-speed rail is going to be a long time coming, in the USA. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2010-07-13 13:07 |
| #2 I think I've solved their problem... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-13 10:57 |
#1  |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2010-07-13 10:49 |