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MNN.COM › Green Tech › Transportation
Infographic: U.S. clears the track for high-speed rail
Fri, Apr 30 2010 at 12:55 PM
 17

Related Topics:

Train & Rail, Eco-tourism, Infographic

High-speed rail in the United States: A graphic depicting how the Obama administration's stimulus grants will be spent to seed planning and construction of high-speed rail corridors. 

Related stories on MNN:
  • California consults with China about high-speed rail
  • Obama creates new jobs by investing in high-speed rail
  • Obama to announce high-speed rail plan post-speech
  • U.S. looks to Spanish high-speed rail as model
  • Clearing the track for high-speed rail
  • High-speed debate
  • More alternative transportation news

 

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anonymous
Alanis May 18 2012 at 2:08 AM

yup, it's 2012 and what a waste of money that was.

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anonymous
John May 11 2010 at 1:11 AM

I would love to know where that speed estimate for the Acela came from. I think its *****. The Acela is WAY more expensive and travel times are only minutes less. Im on the NE Corridor all the time and can never justify paying double or triple for a ticket that saves a few minutes.

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anonymous
Josh Mitteldorf May 06 2010 at 9:17 AM

Philadelphia to Boston on Amtrak, 500km, 5 hours, $211
Tokyo to Osaka on Nozomi train, 500km, 2.5 hours, $143

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anonymous
Oscar (NL) May 05 2010 at 3:55 AM
Here in Europe, we are using high-speed rail (HSR) since 1981, when France introduced the TGV. Later, other countries developed their own systems: the German ICE, Spanish AVE trains and the Eurostar Italia. In the 90s, the first international services were introduced: the TMST to London, Thalys and ICE International. Other countries like the UK, Portugal and Sweden used tilting trains as an alternative. At present, there are high-speed lines serving Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, London, Brussels, Amsterdam,
.... More
Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. There are also separate networks in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla) and Italy (Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples). All these networks have different characteristics. The French TGV focuses on 300-500 mile journeys from and to Paris, making it an "aerial network at zero height". The average Jean-Pierre drives with his small Renault to a TGV-station an continues his journey by train from there. In Germany, journey distances are shorter, and the ICE also runs on upgraded lines (125-145 mph) as well as conventional lines (100 mph). This is compensated by a cadenced timetable = trains running at regular intervals, allowing passengers to switch trains easily. Regions adopted these timetables as well, which means public transport chains from high-speed train to regional bus. Switzerland and the Netherlands have put this thought almost into perfection. Switzerland has "nodal points" all over the country where all modalities (intercity train, regional train, bus) gather together every hour, allowing passengers to switch without problems. In the Netherlands, even intercity services are so frequently (Amsterdam-Utrecht every 15 minutes) that you hardly have to wait for your train to arrive. These countries focus on "as fast as needed" rather than "as fast as possible". Concerning the United States: building such an impressive network is probably, despite the complexity, the easy part. The hard part is: will the Americans be ready for it? In my opinion, adding a "discover Europe by rail" program to high school education will be as important as the correct choice of HSR system. This will make a whole new generation of people familiar with HSR. The worth of a system is measured by the number of people who will use it.
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anonymous
David May 05 2010 at 1:51 AM

When I went to Europe this Summer, i really enjoyed traveling by the high speed trains. For the money, its a good deal, and not that stressful. The only problem is sometimes it was packed, and I couldn't sit next to my family or have to stand for awhile. I think High Speed Trains here would totally be worth the investment, and be good for tourism.

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anonymous
Kane May 03 2010 at 2:46 PM
Wishful thinking. Having taken both the Acela and Amtrak's Regional Service, I can personally tell you that the Acela, while more comfortable with newer cars, is not that much different speed-wise than the Regional Service; it just makes less stops which cuts its time down. It also is hampered by its faulty tilt system, which makes it run at lower speeds (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/24/national/24acela.html?pagewanted=3) Amtrak is one of the biggest jokes for those who live here in the Northeast.
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Decades of government subsidies have done nothing for service or prices, as it is sometimes cheaper to fly between Boston and New York than it is to take the train. I prefer taking the train; it's comfortable and if you plan well ahead it's cheaper than other modes (though it will never be cheaper than the bus). I really hope the Obama administration and ensuing administrations are serious about high speed rail, as it could change the face of travel in this country for the better.
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anonymous
Jack May 03 2010 at 12:18 AM
Trains are efficient at transporting large number of people at low cost. Even small cities(about 50000 people) suffer from traffic. Trains are much cheaper than buses and buses are cheaper than airplane rides. if you are traveling less than 500 miles away than buses and trains are cheaper and almost as fast. but it would be cool if there is an option to go from Chicago to New York City by train in less than 4 hours. Right now trains are way too slow and expensive for very long distances(1000+miles).
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it's MADNESS when you try to fly during the holidays at Ohare and other major airports.
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anonymous
Jame May 01 2010 at 8:20 AM

the most irritating thing here is that states that don't "get" public transportation didn't receive any of the grants...because their plans were so poorly developed....so now they get left further in the dust....which they don't care that much....but those of us who are idiots enough to live in one of these forgotten states...we're going to be the ones caught in traffic for the rest of our adult life.

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anonymous
peter May 01 2010 at 7:35 AM

574 km/h != 340 m/h
get the figures right.

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medfirecracker's picture
Meredith Darlington May 03 2010 at 5:43 PM

Thanks for the catch! The figure has been corrected.

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anonymous
iwong123 May 01 2010 at 3:06 AM

Excellent site, keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks.
=================
iwon
Advanced Technology

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anonymous
Chris May 01 2010 at 1:32 AM
It's all well and good trying to create a network of passenger rail from city to city, however this system is fairly useless at the moment as most major metro areas still lack public transit at the local level. Until these "hub" cities develop local rails similar to the L in Chicago or the subway system in NYC cars will remain the economic and convenient method of travel. Why on earth would I take high speed railways to a city if I just have to spend more money than I would have driving there on
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a car rental to get around for my trip. Air travel will continually compete with rail for people who are economically comfortable enough to rent a car and until an adequate subway system exists in at least the top 40 cities in the U.S. railways will cease to be a viable means of travel. Subway systems and above ground metros are not overly expensive to build, however the longer we continue to build larger and larger highways along commuter lines without taking the initiative to build local train-ways alongside them the deeper we dig ourselves into this hole.
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anonymous
justhecuke May 01 2010 at 12:21 AM

Actually, its the states that could provide the most economic benefit per dollar spent. That's why the plans go along major population centers and major business centers instead of around the north western area.

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anonymous
Gabriel Unger Apr 30 2010 at 11:34 PM

Connect Las Vegas and Dallas to Albuquerque and I'm sold.

Wish this happened sooner. I could use a train ride between Rochester and Boston that wasn't Amtrak.

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anonymous
Guest Apr 30 2010 at 10:35 PM

Is 110mph in many corridors the current speed or after they built the new system? (I have to assume it's the planned speed, because I never heard of an 220mph train in California). It's just that nobody would call 110mph "high speed" for inter city trains in many parts here in Europe. Anyway, I hope you'll get these soon! "Real" high speed rail is a bliss!

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anonymous
Kay Apr 30 2010 at 4:46 PM

because all anyone is interested in here is cars, cars, cars. The states that got the grants are one that are thinking ahead.

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anonymous
Jake Apr 30 2010 at 9:47 PM

Actually it is probably based on need and most heavily traveled highways. I doubt the midwest is full of congestion and look :O not as many high speed trains.

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