Passenger Trains > Questions Questions Questions

I always enjoy reading your opinions regarding the California High Speed Rail and the X train as they are most amusing. So I have several questions for you "professionals".

First question, What is the difference between the CHSR and the X Train projects other than location and destinations?

Second question, If the X Train group were given 80 billion in tax payer guaranteed loans (like Solyndra) would their project come about?

KR

2nd question, answer is NO and they couldn't find the money 15 minutes later either. Computer system would have suffered a mysterious meltdown just before that, all data missing. As with any situation like this in America, they ( whoever 'they' is ) would appologize though and really feel bad.

CHSRA is a public authority that has begun building a purpose built, high speed network in CA. X-Train is a private company that has proposed running conventional passenger service over BNSF and UP lines from Orange Country to Las Vegas. You may be confusing them with XpressWest, formerly DesertXpress, a company that has proposed building and operating a high speed line from Victorville, CA to Vegas, and applied for an FRA loan to fund construction. As for X-Train, if they were loaned the $80B you mention, or even the $535M that Solyndra actually got, they would probably be running by now. Of course, as with Solyndra, there's no guarantee that they could pay the loan back.

Dave



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/14 18:04 by DavidP.

If CAHSR had chosen to start with LA - Bakersfield, a truly useful segment, instead of the doomed to failure nowhere to nowhere line, DesertXpress likely would be turning dirt right now:

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-03/california-rail-project-pursues-deal-with-las-vegas-train.html

They picked the first section because it is straight and fast - Santa Fe was running trains at 100-plus there in the late 1930s. It's a great place to test equipment. When the freeways were built they began small and were eventually connected, as was the California aqueduct.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

MojaveBill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They picked the first section because it is
> straight and fast - Santa Fe was running trains at
> 100-plus there in the late 1930s. It's a great
> place to test equipment. When the freeways were
> built they began small and were eventually
> connected, as was the California aqueduct.

and that was a complete B___S___ argument. California will get its Cincinnati Subway not running between Nowhere and Nowhere.

The valley is the cheapest and easiest portion to build, it also allows for use as a "Test track" until the full route is built.

Posted from Android

jkchubbes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The valley is the cheapest and easiest portion to
> build, it also allows for use as a "Test track"
> until the full route is built.
>
> Posted from Android

The point is that the full route won't be built because Nowhere to Nowhere will be a complete failure.

Is a test track worth that much to you?

jkchubbes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The valley is the cheapest and easiest portion to
> build, it also allows for use as a "Test track"
> until the full route is built.
>
> Posted from Android

This reminded me of the story about a drunk that a cop found crawling around under a streetlight.

The cop asked him what he was doing.

He said: "Offisher, I wash tryin' to unlock my car dore an' I dropped the keys, so I'm lookin' fer 'em."

The cop asked: "Well your car's not here. Where is it?"

The drunk pointed down the street.

The cop said: "Well why aren't you looking for your keys down there?"

The drunk replied: "Becaush the light's mush better here, offisher…"

On the one hand, starting the HSR between Nowhere and Somewhere Else will be easier to build -- but the testing can drag out a lot longer (simply because it's there) to finally demonstrate its unfeasibility.

On the other hand, the much-more-difficult-to-build LA-Bakersfield segment would prove that it's not going to work -- in much less time.

Just sayin'


Fritz in HSV, AL

Isn't there already a high-speed test track at the TTC in Colorado?

Also, Federal stimulus money stated the construction had to start in the Central Valley. If you take money for a project, you have to follow their rules.

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

3751_loony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also, Federal stimulus money stated the
> construction had to start in the Central Valley.
> If you take money for a project, you have to
> follow their rules.

I don't care if the Feds made the initial location decision, it still is a stupid decision.