(01-16-2020 11:32 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Speaking of rail, recent story on the Cali epic boondoggle.
Facing war with Trump, troubled California bullet train pushes biggest contract ever

The California bullet train authority is moving ahead with an aggressive plan to issue its biggest contract in history, steering into sharp criticism by federal regulators and even the state-appointed peer review panel that it is overreaching.

The agency took a key step last week toward issuing a 30-year-long contract to install track, set up high-voltage electrical lines, create a digital signaling system, build a heavy maintenance train garage and obligate future maintenance of the equipment and track.

It would cover future track from San Jose to Bakersfield, more than half the proposed Los Angeles-to-San Francisco system. It would lock the state into a maintenance contract, as well as equipment, on segments that it currently does not have money to build..................................
https://www.latimes.com/california/story...ing-deeper

There has to be some epic kickbacks and bribes with this deal.

That whole project was nothing but a contractor boondoggle. Its not even fully high speed.

I took Amtrak from Chicago to St. Louis a year ago at the holidays. It was actually fun, but I agree it's way too long with all the stops (many were useless too with no one getting on and off the trains as near as I could see). There was also a delay when we had to back up the train and go to an alternate track so that a train going the other direction could pass us on the single railray. That wasn't too encouraging. The wifi and seating wasn't bad, so I could see students embracing it more if it was a little cheaper.

Houston and Dallas are supposed to be building a high speed rail that is costing billions. That's also probably a massive waste of money.

(01-16-2020 07:11 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-16-2020 11:32 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Speaking of rail, recent story on the Cali epic boondoggle.
Facing war with Trump, troubled California bullet train pushes biggest contract ever

The California bullet train authority is moving ahead with an aggressive plan to issue its biggest contract in history, steering into sharp criticism by federal regulators and even the state-appointed peer review panel that it is overreaching.

The agency took a key step last week toward issuing a 30-year-long contract to install track, set up high-voltage electrical lines, create a digital signaling system, build a heavy maintenance train garage and obligate future maintenance of the equipment and track.

It would cover future track from San Jose to Bakersfield, more than half the proposed Los Angeles-to-San Francisco system. It would lock the state into a maintenance contract, as well as equipment, on segments that it currently does not have money to build..................................
https://www.latimes.com/california/story...ing-deeper

There has to be some epic kickbacks and bribes with this deal.

That whole project was nothing but a contractor boondoggle. Its not even fully high speed.

The contractors are probably top shelf. The project was a sham from the beginning.

(01-16-2020 02:04 AM)banker Wrote:  It would actually be nice if train travel was more used in the country, but it shouldn't be subsidized to survive.

ICE vehicles are heavily subsidized with free carbon emissions. What's fair for the goose...

(01-17-2020 01:11 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(01-16-2020 02:04 AM)banker Wrote:  It would actually be nice if train travel was more used in the country, but it shouldn't be subsidized to survive.

ICE vehicles are heavily subsidized with free carbon emissions. What's fair for the goose...

Goat, banana, dry tooth socket.

Man, it's easy to just say random things that have no bearing on the conversation at hand.

The Cal Bullet Train is a gift to Pelosi.

It's primary and first leg is the bay area to Sacremento, where rail already exists. It exists in fact all the way down to Bakersfield.

Where it DOESN'T exist is Bakersfield to LA.

THAT is where things should have started... where commercial rail does not exist... and not making existing rail that could easily be improved obsolete

(01-17-2020 01:30 PM)banker Wrote:  

(01-17-2020 01:11 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(01-16-2020 02:04 AM)banker Wrote:  It would actually be nice if train travel was more used in the country, but it shouldn't be subsidized to survive.

ICE vehicles are heavily subsidized with free carbon emissions. What's fair for the goose...

Goat, banana, dry tooth socket.

Man, it's easy to just say random things that have no bearing on the conversation at hand.

that's as good as it gets in the land o' lakes' random...

(01-18-2020 01:14 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  The Cal Bullet Train is a gift to Pelosi.

It's primary and first leg is the bay area to Sacremento, where rail already exists. It exists in fact all the way down to Bakersfield.

Where it DOESN'T exist is Bakersfield to LA.

THAT is where things should have started... where commercial rail does not exist... and not making existing rail that could easily be improved obsolete

There are sections of this project where Frieght and passenger rail share the same right of way. That more than anything discredited this project as truly being about bring HSR to the west coast.

(01-18-2020 05:52 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-18-2020 01:14 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  The Cal Bullet Train is a gift to Pelosi.

It's primary and first leg is the bay area to Sacremento, where rail already exists. It exists in fact all the way down to Bakersfield.

Where it DOESN'T exist is Bakersfield to LA.

THAT is where things should have started... where commercial rail does not exist... and not making existing rail that could easily be improved obsolete

There are sections of this project where Frieght and passenger rail share the same right of way. That more than anything discredited this project as truly being about bring HSR to the west coast.

the 'project' has exceeded any level of economic sanity.....

it's like 12 yrs. ago being at the engineering change meeting and simply hanging muh fk'n head....yeah, I lead that meeting with 3 fk'n different geo entities....

ya can't fix 'em when power overwhelms the USD.....they can't see through the tampon that loves to suck blood....

#oneCanOnly....

(01-16-2020 10:14 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I took Amtrak from Chicago to St. Louis a year ago at the holidays. It was actually fun, but I agree it's way too long with all the stops (many were useless too with no one getting on and off the trains as near as I could see). There was also a delay when we had to back up the train and go to an alternate track so that a train going the other direction could pass us on the single railray. That wasn't too encouraging. The wifi and seating wasn't bad, so I could see students embracing it more if it was a little cheaper.

Houston and Dallas are supposed to be building a high speed rail that is costing billions. That's also probably a massive waste of money.

That's privately funded. So more power to them. Its also real high speed rail.

I've ridden Philadelphia to NYC. That was fine. Its a relatively short distance. I can't imagine a long trip like that though.

Taken lots of trains in Europe.

Taken the commuters in Cali

Flew to DC just so my son and I could ride the train to NYC.

When my son moved to NYC, he took the train because he could take 4-5 suitcases.

I'd do it in a heartbeat if it were financially competitive

Rail should only be projected for things that are too heavy for roads.

Smart cars will make ad hoc trains on reserved roadways. They will be faster, safer, and more numerous than trains. They will be able to deliver a car much closer to their last mile. This is the future. There is no reason to invest in passenger rail outside our largest metro areas. Trains of smart cars will do the job better, cheaper, and faster.

(01-19-2020 06:19 PM)Claw Wrote:  Rail should only be projected for things that are too heavy for roads.

Smart cars will make ad hoc trains on reserved roadways. They will be faster, safer, and more numerous than trains. They will be able to deliver a car much closer to their last mile. This is the future. There is no reason to invest in passenger rail outside our largest metro areas. Trains of smart cars will do the job better, cheaper, and faster.

While a agree, that reserve roadway has to be acquired first. I’m also certain that you will load your current ride into some type of carriage. So while it won’t be much as HSR, high costs will still exist for this system.

(01-19-2020 07:14 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 06:19 PM)Claw Wrote:  Rail should only be projected for things that are too heavy for roads.

Smart cars will make ad hoc trains on reserved roadways. They will be faster, safer, and more numerous than trains. They will be able to deliver a car much closer to their last mile. This is the future. There is no reason to invest in passenger rail outside our largest metro areas. Trains of smart cars will do the job better, cheaper, and faster.

While a agree, that reserve roadway has to be acquired first. I’m also certain that you will load your current ride into some type of carriage. So while it won’t be much as HSR, high costs will still exist for this system.

Yes. But roads are cheaper to build than railroad, and existing roads can be utilized.

EDIT TO ADD: I do NOT think your car will get on a carriage. That's the innovation. The cars will communicate with each other and join/separate as needed while moving. The "train" will never stop. Cars will join and leave the line dynamically at any time because the cars will be coordinated by communicating their movements with each other. This will change everything about the way we travel.

(01-19-2020 07:56 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 07:14 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 06:19 PM)Claw Wrote:  Rail should only be projected for things that are too heavy for roads.

Smart cars will make ad hoc trains on reserved roadways. They will be faster, safer, and more numerous than trains. They will be able to deliver a car much closer to their last mile. This is the future. There is no reason to invest in passenger rail outside our largest metro areas. Trains of smart cars will do the job better, cheaper, and faster.

While a agree, that reserve roadway has to be acquired first. I’m also certain that you will load your current ride into some type of carriage. So while it won’t be much as HSR, high costs will still exist for this system.

Yes. But roads are cheaper to build than railroad, and existing roads can be utilized.

EDIT TO ADD: I do NOT think your car will get on a carriage. That's the innovation. The cars will communicate with each other and join/separate as needed while moving. The "train" will never stop. Cars will join and leave the line dynamically at any time because the cars will be coordinated by communicating their movements with each other. This will change everything about the way we travel.

With the average age of cars on the road close to 9 years, I don’t see everyone getting new rides and/or attachment to make them compatible. But you are correct that roads are cheaper

(01-19-2020 09:00 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 07:56 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 07:14 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(01-19-2020 06:19 PM)Claw Wrote:  Rail should only be projected for things that are too heavy for roads.

Smart cars will make ad hoc trains on reserved roadways. They will be faster, safer, and more numerous than trains. They will be able to deliver a car much closer to their last mile. This is the future. There is no reason to invest in passenger rail outside our largest metro areas. Trains of smart cars will do the job better, cheaper, and faster.

While a agree, that reserve roadway has to be acquired first. I’m also certain that you will load your current ride into some type of carriage. So while it won’t be much as HSR, high costs will still exist for this system.

Yes. But roads are cheaper to build than railroad, and existing roads can be utilized.

EDIT TO ADD: I do NOT think your car will get on a carriage. That's the innovation. The cars will communicate with each other and join/separate as needed while moving. The "train" will never stop. Cars will join and leave the line dynamically at any time because the cars will be coordinated by communicating their movements with each other. This will change everything about the way we travel.

With the average age of cars on the road close to 9 years, I don’t see everyone getting new rides and/or attachment to make them compatible. But you are correct that roads are cheaper

I think you'll rent one. Hop in. Put in your credit card. Pull it out when you exit.