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Coast-to-coast train journey

Coast-to-coast train journey

Old Jul 7th 2012, 5:22 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by materialcontroller
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18748717

Is there any realistic chance of this getting built?
Considering the hundreds of millions already spent on the project, I would hope so! Even existing railroads don't want the high speed line: in one case specifically requesting a 150ft gap between their tracks and the high speed line "in case the high speed trains crash".

The other high speed line is from Los Angeles to Las Vegas - except it would start in Victorville (seems LA is too difficult to get to). So people near downtown LA would drive 1.5 hours to get to Victorville and then take the train for what is a 2.5 hour drive for the rest of the way? I don't think so! Nevertheless the subsequent plan is to join Victorville to the LA-SF high speed line, thus joining LA to LV with just a 100 mile detour.
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Old Jul 7th 2012, 5:25 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Tonrob's train now estimated 1h49 late (hmm, I think that means it's either arrived and the status hasn't updated, or it's sitting alongside one of the many freight yards and junctions approaching Chicago). Only a couple of hours to connect to the Empire Builder. Good luck! At least there's a half decent food court inside the station, plus the Metropolitan Lounge to chill out in.
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Old Jul 7th 2012, 5:31 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by GeoffM
Considering the hundreds of millions already spent on the project, I would hope so! Even existing railroads don't want the high speed line: in one case specifically requesting a 150ft gap between their tracks and the high speed line "in case the high speed trains crash".

The other high speed line is from Los Angeles to Las Vegas - except it would start in Victorville (seems LA is too difficult to get to). So people near downtown LA would drive 1.5 hours to get to Victorville and then take the train for what is a 2.5 hour drive for the rest of the way? I don't think so! Nevertheless the subsequent plan is to join Victorville to the LA-SF high speed line, thus joining LA to LV with just a 100 mile detour.
I hope I'm wrong, the I'm very sceptical that these lines will get built. Public support in CA for them is waning, and the difficulty of building these lines into the major cities (LA, SF etc) is daunting in the face of all the nimbys. Put it like this: with the current political climate I doubt that the interstate highway system would have got funded and built. In the mean time, the infrastructure of the country continues to deteriorate and get left behind by other parts of the world.
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Old Jul 7th 2012, 6:18 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
I hope I'm wrong, the I'm very sceptical that these lines will get built. Public support in CA for them is waning, and the difficulty of building these lines into the major cities (LA, SF etc) is daunting in the face of all the nimbys. Put it like this: with the current political climate I doubt that the interstate highway system would have got funded and built. In the mean time, the infrastructure of the country continues to deteriorate and get left behind by other parts of the world.
Some desert tortoise or something has cost the LV project millions. Considering the relatively easy terrain of Victorville to LV, and a bloody animal has held things up thus far, I will be pleasantly surprised if this gets finished. Somebody said groundbreaking preparations had already been made in Victorville but I don't know if that's true.

I think the LA-SF link is less likely. Unlike the LV link which has to be finished to get any reward, the LA-SF can be built in stages and opened incrementally - which also means it can be cancelled at any stage for any political reason.
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Old Jul 7th 2012, 7:21 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

years back there was a proposal for high speed rail linking 3 major cities in Texas, and I heard the airlines killed it... knew it would be too popular and price competitive!

short haul flights (less than 400 miles) are ideal for high speed rail, and are around of 25% of US flights - that's down from over 1/3 15 years ago, as airline travel gets to be more of a hassle, more delays, and more expensive. So the market is there and waiting.
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Old Jul 7th 2012, 8:59 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by GeoffM
Tonrob's train now estimated 1h49 late (hmm, I think that means it's either arrived and the status hasn't updated, or it's sitting alongside one of the many freight yards and junctions approaching Chicago). Only a couple of hours to connect to the Empire Builder. Good luck! At least there's a half decent food court inside the station, plus the Metropolitan Lounge to chill out in.
Don't worry, the Empire Builder is 2+ hours late too - although this did play havoc with my pub interlude.

BTW - The Metropolitan Lounge is shit.
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Old Jul 8th 2012, 12:22 am
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by Giantaxe
I hope I'm wrong, the I'm very sceptical that these lines will get built. Public support in CA for them is waning, and the difficulty of building these lines into the major cities (LA, SF etc) is daunting in the face of all the nimbys. Put it like this: with the current political climate I doubt that the interstate highway system would have got funded and built. In the mean time, the infrastructure of the country continues to deteriorate and get left behind by other parts of the world.
Can't argue with that. However it is more than the nimbys stopping everything in its track. It is the groups who don't want anything in anyones yard.
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Old Jul 8th 2012, 1:57 am
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by tonrob
BTW - The Metropolitan Lounge is shit.
Thanks for the recommendation


Jim.
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Old Jul 8th 2012, 12:49 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Left Chicago 4 hours late due to a buggered dining car. Now, the next morning, we're 4.5 hours late entering North Dakota.

Food quite good (considering we're on a train) and all quite relaxing and fun so far.
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Old Jul 8th 2012, 8:43 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by tonrob
Left Chicago 4 hours late due to a buggered dining car. Now, the next morning, we're 4.5 hours late entering North Dakota.

Food quite good (considering we're on a train) and all quite relaxing and fun so far.
So, your friend's air connection is already at serious risk of not happening, then?

I hope you are taking photos for the benefit of your co-horts on here


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Old Jul 8th 2012, 8:54 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by Scouse Express
So, your friend's air connection is already at serious risk of not happening, then?
Still a good chance of catching up a couple of hours. However, they're out of the 2 hour slot allocated to Amtrak so it could go either way.
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Old Jul 9th 2012, 1:43 am
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

5.5 hours down the toilet now...
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Old Jul 9th 2012, 3:22 am
  #88  
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by tonrob
Food quite good (considering we're on a train) and all quite relaxing and fun so far.
So, last night's salmon aside, have you worked out what the Amtrak equivalent of a British Rail Pork Pie is?
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Old Jul 9th 2012, 6:32 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

TR is probably stuck in another siding by now, but hope you enjoy the rest of your journey.
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Old Jul 9th 2012, 6:53 pm
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Default Re: Coast-to-coast train journey

Originally Posted by joto
TR is probably stuck in another siding by now, but hope you enjoy the rest of your journey.
Still 5 hours late but with the 45 minute padding into Seattle, he might be there by 3pm!

Originally Posted by tonrob
BTW - The Metropolitan Lounge is shit.
Compared to the public waiting area?
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