| One of the problems with our Mass Transit | | | | miles (try that in a truck at 55 mph?), |
| System in the United States is its inability | | | | similar to the width of Texas. Driving across |
| to interconnect with other regional and metro | | | | TX can be a living hell and cause you to want |
| systems. A more cohesive plan is needed and | | | | to kiss the ground at the first off ramps in |
| Amtrak isn't the answer. We need more | | | | Louisiana or Las Cruses, New Mexico. |
| rider-ship, lower costs and greater economies | | | | Travelers have often made these "living hell" |
| of scale, which must be based on reality, not | | | | comments traveling from Denver to Kansas |
| pet project politics. | | | | City. |
| | | | |
| One way to save money is to spend more in the | | | | The distance from between NYC and Florida is |
| technological capital constructing of these | | | | about 900 miles (not an especially satisfying |
| projects and stack the deck with the highest | | | | drive when you throw in Florida's length), |
| of high tech. For instance the use of | | | | Salt Lake to San Francisco 600 miles, Denver |
| pilot-less trains is one innovation being | | | | to Chicago 900 miles, Detroit to D.C. 700 |
| looked at. High Speed Trains have a great | | | | miles so you can see the benefits. One |
| advantage over short distances over standing | | | | reoccurring idea from soccer moms traveling |
| in line boarding a plane and getting off a | | | | is to; piggy-back on flat bed rail cars, like |
| plane and finding a cab, shuttle or picking | | | | ferry. The high-speed train could streak |
| up a higher priced rent-a-car (supply and | | | | across the region and then you simply drive |
| demand issues with decreased air travel). If | | | | off. In studying this concept which seems |
| you consider the two hours ahead of time they | | | | more than relevant could be done by modifying |
| require for check in and screening, the one | | | | the TTX Auto Hauler Trailers design for |
| hour to get off the plane and get your | | | | high-speed rail and put in a couple of |
| checked bags, stand at the curb, drive to the | | | | portable toilets so you could get out and use |
| location or hotel you can see that a 200 mph | | | | the restroom. |
| train; has the over all advantage. Consider 3 | | | | |
| hours at 200 mph is 600 miles. Distances of | | | | Then you have your car when you get there. |
| 700-800 mile trips, would be much better | | | | Trains with no engineers are here and this is |
| served by high-speed train VS an airliner. | | | | one way we can take out human error and |
| Even if you could fill up an entire A380, it | | | | reduce costs. Perhaps with the strong union |
| would take an hour and a half just to load | | | | controls in New Jersey, Michigan, New York, |
| the plane and deplane. Distances, which are | | | | Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut. Maryland |
| under 150 miles people usually will prefer to | | | | and D.C. it may not be feasible in this |
| drive. So those mileages between 150 miles to | | | | decade, but surely for cargo transport trains |
| 800 miles a bullet train is best. | | | | it could be done. Eventually these new |
| | | | technologies could be introduced and we can |
| For those not wishing to fly for fear of | | | | enjoy the economies of scale needed to vastly |
| flying, they may wish to travel up to 1500 | | | | improve our current flow of transportation. |
| miles or more by bullet train. The length of | | | | Think about it. |
| California on the 5 Freeway is about 1000 | | | | |