DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Unveiled: China's 245mph train service is the world's fastest

**M_Marked** · 12-30-2009, 12:45 AM

inter-city high speed rail in the U.S. probably only makes sense on segments of the east and west coasts.

and chicagoland/great lakes region.

adam's point isn't entirely accurate, of course, many factors influenced development of our transportation network. In europe deregulation of the air industry is more recent. OTOH, airlines haven't found it particularly fruitful to challenge HSR service (where HSR service has been launched, air service is generally reduced around 70% AFAIK). air service between less travelled points in Europe has never been better. also, AFAIK, one of the things that finally killed budd was inconsistent orders by government run agencies (that had taken over passenger rail). It's less clear whether dumping the NEC's passenger service was good for the Pennsy.despite the railroads accounting, splitting up costs in a railroad is complicated. moreover, the feds made it as difficult as possible for railroads to change with the times. abandonments were highly regulated as were prices, often without regard to the economics of the situation. it is speculated that had the staggers act been passed ten to fifteen years earlier, there'd still be a pennsy today.

air service today is much cheaper than it was pre-deregulation, passenger rail is still managed in a dysfunctional model. government monopolies who are ultimately run by political cronies rather than people with a transportation background or directive. that's largely true for transit was well as intercity rail.

12-30-2009, 12:45 AM	#37
M_Marked Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 563 Senior Member	inter-city high speed rail in the U.S. probably only makes sense on segments of the east and west coasts. and chicagoland/great lakes region. adam's point isn't entirely accurate, of course, many factors influenced development of our transportation network. In europe deregulation of the air industry is more recent. OTOH, airlines haven't found it particularly fruitful to challenge HSR service (where HSR service has been launched, air service is generally reduced around 70% AFAIK). air service between less travelled points in Europe has never been better. also, AFAIK, one of the things that finally killed budd was inconsistent orders by government run agencies (that had taken over passenger rail). It's less clear whether dumping the NEC's passenger service was good for the Pennsy.despite the railroads accounting, splitting up costs in a railroad is complicated. moreover, the feds made it as difficult as possible for railroads to change with the times. abandonments were highly regulated as were prices, often without regard to the economics of the situation. it is speculated that had the staggers act been passed ten to fifteen years earlier, there'd still be a pennsy today. air service today is much cheaper than it was pre-deregulation, passenger rail is still managed in a dysfunctional model. government monopolies who are ultimately run by political cronies rather than people with a transportation background or directive. that's largely true for transit was well as intercity rail.
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