Central Japan Railways, through a shell company in Houston, says they can build high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas by 2020. The key is they say they can do it without tax dollars.
I am skeptical, but if the Japanese want to spend their money building this I say bring it on. In fact, I also think it would be great if Europeans who say Americans are backward because we don't have high-speed rail would also put their money where their mouths are. If it's so great, if it's so profitable, please invest your money and build those rail lines.
I am not sure the economics quite pencil out though. Lone Star High Speed Rail says the tickets will be "about" $100. Houston to Dallas is approximately 225 miles. Let's see, figure 2 persons per car, a large car that gets a mediocre 25 miles per gallon, gas at $3.00/gallon, that's... $13.50/person, vs $100/person on rail. I think my remedial math is right on that. Plus at the other end of the rail line you'll have to arrange further transportation.
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If the train is going 200mph, you get to Dallas in an hour and a half or so, instead of 4 and a half hours to drive. Most businesses prefer that employees fly for a day trip, as it's safer, but if the train is as fast, and competitively priced, more people will use it than the planes. there might be a good market for business travelers. For the family, we'll still drive.
Like you say, if they invest their own money, more power to them.
I don't know a ton about Texas. Do that many people travel between Houston and Dallas every day to make something like this really worth it?
Southwest fills a couple dozen 737's on the route, so maybe. But that traffic doesn't cover the initial $10 billion or so build cost (so they claim), on top of operational expenses. But again, if it's their money at risk and the public isn't forced to invest in bonds with tax dollars, I hope they go for it. I would love to be proved wrong.
I'd like to know how they plan to acquire the land they'll need - bribe the local governments to use eminent domain?
That's not a problem in China - just build a new village 20km down the road and send in the army to help move everyone.
When I lived in NY, we jokingly called Amtrak "Greyhound for white yuppies". It was on the mark but frankly, I'd rather take a train than fly.
I always found riding trains a very pleasurable experience. Mind you, I don't want tax dollars going towards them....
To really work, they could do like they are for the Wash DC HOT lanes - VDOT can't add lanes to the beltway unless the private company is getting their minimum traffic numbers. So, the rail would have a veto over highway improvements.
As to air travel between the cities - the Feds have jurisdiction over interstate commerce. The state has jurisdiction over intra-state commerce. All the have to do is to forbid the addition of new flights between the cities. See? It's so simple!
More of your tax dollars are going to roads and airports trust me. This is a great idea. oh and you have to factor maintenance on your vehicle from driving all those miles which is far more than $100. High speed rail has proven to be competative with air travel around the world, and there are examples of that right here in the US. (northeast corridor)
More of your tax dollars are going to roads and airports trust me. This is a great idea. oh and you have to factor maintenance on your vehicle from driving all those miles which is far more than $100. High speed rail has proven to be competative with air travel around the world, and there are examples of that right here in the US. (northeast corridor)
My apologies for the double post.
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