Rail news from California.
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Maybe, (one can only hope!) the Califools can wake up to the HUGE subsidies required to build and maintain a RR. While I love trains,, there are limits value vs service. Passenger in NOT efficiency-wise nor logistically. Why the train mode of travel is accepted in Europe and Asia, those dynamics wil never work here, Period.
This administration is continually trying to re-shape REAL America, but I for one , ain't buying it. Those who support subsidizing these projects, use your own money, not mine!
Dave G.
ps, this was not a paid political announcement.
As much as I like trains to play with, I think gigantic investments in passenger service by rail make no sense at this point in history. I think trains and perhaps even subways and other mass transit will be largely outmoded within 50 or so years, maybe sooner. At the risk of boring everyone I'll repeat my speculation from another thread:
My prediction: rail will be completely replaced in the next 50-100 years by robotic, electrically powered trucks and automobiles based upon cheap solar power. No one really wants to get on a crowded train or subway with some idiot playing music on his phone so loud you can hear it, or shouting into her cellphone. Let's face it, being around strangers involuntarily is not always fun, and most people have chosen the automobile for that reason. You leave when you want and go where you want.
Robotics will solve the major problem of the idiots, drunks and careless wetware behind the wheel (35,000 deaths a year) and traffic jams. You'll also be able to read, nap, do your afternoon delight, or work while you're in transit in a robotic automobile, thus increasing productivity and/or happiness. Solar power derived electricity will solve the major problem of air pollution. People will be able to live where they want and central cities will shrink. Sorry I won't be around to see it 
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Theres two separate issues in this although like everything else, politicians try to simply them by blending them together to try and make points with their "followers".
The first issue is the projection of ridership and any associated value. The second is financing. To me it sounds like a practical plan to foresee future trends in advance..something this country has a poor record with..every solution seems to have a need to become a crisis first before any serious considerations occur.
The financial end of it does not appear to be sound but then as I see it, like everything else it's a war of propaganda on both sides..that always seems to be based on skewed self interests rather than any pragmatism. Such a bad past and continuing habit of mismanaging their budgets does not make for any real confidence in their ability to pay for it..despite it's potential..
Originally Posted by dgauss:
Maybe, (one can only hope!) the Califools can wake up to the HUGE subsidies required to build and maintain a RR. While I love trains,, there are limits value vs service. Passenger in NOT efficiency-wise nor logistically. Why the train mode of travel is accepted in Europe and Asia, those dynamics wil never work here, Period.
This administration is continually trying to re-shape REAL America, but I for one , ain't buying it. Those who support subsidizing these projects, use your own money, not mine!
Dave G.
ps, this was not a paid political announcement.
I agree, but let's go all the way! Freeways, airports, ship ports! If one wants one mode pay its own way, out of fairness, ALL SHOULD, WITH NO SALES OR PROPERTY TAX BREAKS!
No tax dollars should ever go to a project like this. I am tired of my tax dollars being ****ed away.
