Passenger Trains > 13 Billon & 3 Years - Express West Deal with China

Surprised no one had yet made mention of this deal documented in "Quartz" September 17th, 2015 (among other sources):

China’s first high-speed train in the US will connect Los Angeles to Las VegasChina has signed its first high-speed railway
contract in the US, days ahead of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington D.C. A consortium led by state-owned
China Railway Group and US company XpressWest will set up a joint venture to build a 370-kilometer (230-mile) high-speed
line linking Las Vegas and Los Angeles.China’s leading group on financial and economic affairs announced the deal at a press
conference on Thursday Sept. 17...

...Chinese papers reported the project will cost $12.7 billion and take three years. 

There's that Ameri... err, Chinese CAN DO spirit!

http://qz.com/504194/chinas-first-high-speed-train-in-the-us-will-connect-los-angeles-to-las-vegas/

/Mitch
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/15 07:21 by Mgoldman.

Do we really need a high speed rail line btw those points? Who is going to pay for this?

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/15 21:54 by wabash2800.

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do we really need a high speed rail line btw those
> points? Who is going to pay for this?
>
> Victor A. Baird
> http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

You have never traveled between Los Angeles and Las Vegas on either a Thursday/Friday with return on Sunday. I15 is a standstill at some points. Lots of Ca travelers. Yes there are airplanes, but those also fill up fast.

This is a natural. It would have been better if the US did not have work with China, I would have liked the Japanese or french in on this, but at least there might be a light near a tunnel here.

Posted from iPhone

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do we really need a high speed rail line btw those
> points?

Yes.

"About one-quarter of Las Vegas’s 41 million visitors in 2014 came from Southern
California, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, many via
a several thour long highway drive."

> Who is going to pay for this?

XpressWest is a private company.  In other words, it will be built to MAKE money
rather then to DRAW money (along with the associated polictical favors).  Not 
saying there is not a need to subsidize public works projects - especially the
infrastructure, but in this case, I beleive profits are the incentive that may actually
bring this to fruition.  Unfortunately, it would seem most of the profits will continue
to flow to China.

The LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-vegas-la-chinese-high-speed-rail-20150917-story.htmlXpressWest, a private company formerly called DesertXpress, has been talking about
its high-speed rail project since at least 2007. Plans have called for a 185-mile route that
would run adjacent to heavily-traveled Interstate 15 from Las Vegas to Victorville, 85 miles
northeast of downtown Los Angeles.Chinese officials now describe the project as a 230-mile route with an additional stop in
Palmdale and eventual service throughout the Los Angeles area using some of the same
track that would be used by the publicly backed California high-speed rail project.Federal railroad records indicate that XpressWest has already secured approvals and
permits from a number of federal agencies for the 185-mile route. Additional permits,
approvals and environmental analysis would be needed for the 230-mile proposal.

/Mitch



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/15 22:09 by Mgoldman.

I think it makes much more sense than the no where to no where valley HSR boondoggle just started using government money. 

I think China is holding a lot of cash from their export sales, this would be a way to invest some of it.
Note the word "invest", it is expected to earn a return, they must have a business model that shows it could generate a surplus from operations.
Going to both Victorville and Palmdale seems wise. This opens the market to not only Metrolink connections but to freeway origination sites throughout the west side of the Los Angeles Basin.
It is easy to see why they would avoid building their own line over/through/under the San Gabriel Mountains, which would be far more expensive that the whole high desert line(s).
IIRC the Caltrans plan for the future freeway version of Route 138 had provisions for a railroad right of way and that could save a lot of time and money by not having to acquire the parcels of real estate.

I wont ride this for any reason ever. I would rather walk to Vegas. Using Chinese money, Chinese equipiment, sending all the money back to Chinese coffers, no one I know will ride it. And when word gets out that this is  a Chinese, not American venture, no one wil ride it. Doomed to fail before it even gets started. And drive to VV to catch the train? Forget it. Use Ca. HSR rails? Never Happen. Doomed failure.

Mgoldman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Surprised no one had yet made mention of this deal
> documented in "Quartz" September 17th, 2015 (among
> other sources):
>


http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3845043

here are 2 important questions:

-where is the terminus in vegas for this train?

-how much extra $$$ will it cost for your taxi ride to and from your hotel?

66

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> here are 2 important questions:
>
> -where is the terminus in vegas for this train?
>
> -how much extra $$$ will it cost for your taxi
> ride to and from your hotel?
>
> 66

There would likely be free shuttles to and from the
station and strip, via the casino hotels.  Imagine a
bus as well.  'Shame the taxi cab consortium /
unions would fight a legitimate monorail.

Sorry I mised the first thread - already in progress, lol:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3845043

 

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> here are 2 important questions:
>
> -where is the terminus in vegas for this train?
>
> -how much extra $$$ will it cost for your taxi
> ride to and from your hotel?
>
> 66

Are you aware that Las Vegas has a public transit system?

Per Mitch's reply, the casinos may also offer shuttle buses.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/15 09:19 by RuleG.

Cosmo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wont ride this for any reason ever. I would
> rather walk to Vegas. Using Chinese money, Chinese
> equipiment, sending all the money back to Chinese
> coffers, no one I know will ride it.

Why will no one you know ride this because it is Chinese-built?  Surely the people you know, like other most American consumers, buy Chinese-made clothing without worrying about wardrobe malfunctions.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/15 18:09 by RuleG.

RuleG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cosmo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wont ride this for any reason ever. I would
> > rather walk to Vegas. Using Chinese money,
> Chinese
> > equipiment, sending all the money back to
> Chinese
> > coffers, no one I know will ride it.
>
> Why will no one you know rider this because it is
> Chinese-built?  Surely the people you know, like
> other most American consumers, buy Chinese-made
> clothing without worrying about wardrobe
> malfunctions.

I would Ride the Train to Vegas from LAX, CA. I don't care who build this train or line.

Cosmo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wont ride this for any reason ever. I would
> rather walk to Vegas. Using Chinese money, Chinese
> equipiment, sending all the money back to Chinese
> coffers, no one I know will ride it. And when word
> gets out that this is  a Chinese, not American
> venture, no one wil ride it. Doomed to fail before
> it even gets started. And drive to VV to catch the
> train? Forget it. Use Ca. HSR rails? Never Happen.
> Doomed failure.

You should call them, quick!
SR

Maybe Boilingman will take a "short" position on their stocks and/or bonds, betting they will fail?
That is what Wall Street has taught us: buy short positions then creat negative press and cash in when prices fall.
(I think I am using the right terms, I'm no investment banker, just a sad spectator.)

Cosmo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wont ride this for any reason ever. I would
> rather walk to Vegas. Using Chinese money, Chinese
> equipiment, sending all the money back to Chinese
> coffers, no one I know will ride it. And when word
> gets out that this is  a Chinese, not American
> venture, no one wil ride it. Doomed to fail before
> it even gets started. And drive to VV to catch the
> train? Forget it. Use Ca. HSR rails? Never Happen.
> Doomed failure.

The first railroad in the U.S. used equipment and rail imported from England.  That seemed to work out OK.  Good thing people then weren't as xenophobic as you.

Dave

railstiesballast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe Boilingman will take a "short" position on
> their stocks and/or bonds, betting they will
> fail?
> That is what Wall Street has taught us: buy short
> positions then creat negative press and cash in
> when prices fall.
> (I think I am using the right terms, I'm no
> investment banker, just a sad spectator.)

Hey, I'm no money guy either!  (but I saw Casino Royal too)
I don't have any huge objection to projects like this, but I do rather lament the fact that all this tech somehow is easily focused on what is basically the entertainment industry and yet can't get traction in the "real world".
SR

The big problem I see is it starting in Victorville. By the time I drive 100 miles to Victorville, I am driving the rest of the way, and I then I have a car when I get there. And I am not leving my care in beautful Victorville. But then I never go on the weekends and with the traffic. I am not opposed to the idea, I just think they need to get into LA county to be successful.

Scott Schifer
Torrance, CA
TinyTrains Website

RuleG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> goneon66 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > here are 2 important questions:
> >
> > -where is the terminus in vegas for this train?
> >
> > -how much extra $$$ will it cost for your taxi
> > ride to and from your hotel?
> >
> > 66
>
> Are you aware that Las Vegas has a public transit
> system?

yes, i go to vegas 2-3x per year and have made the drive from the so. cal beach cities to vegas NUMEROUS times.  i would have NO desire to take public transit from the train station to my hotel.  how familiar are u with vegas????

> Per Mitch's reply, the casinos may also offer
> shuttle buses.

well IF the casinos offer shuttle buses it would DEPEND on how far the drive would be from the station to the casino, how crowded the shuttle buses are, and how frequently they run.........

66

Fact is China has the cash and human resources...  Their Engineering Universities graduate more students every year than ours, even combining all disciplines -- China needs to
put them to work...  Anywhere in the world, in developing countries like ours...