> "Fairly extensive" is pretty vague.
What we have is a moderately extensive of long haul routes. For years, they
were considered adequate, but as we have discovered the economic "advanages"
of having consumer goods made in Asia, they are now becomming overburdened.
Those of you who live in the Los Angeles area know well how the constant
stream of trains out of the ports of Long Beach and LA never seems to end.
The major rail lines made a decision to concentrate on long haul freight,
grain, coal, and container and piggyback trains. A large amount of branch
lines were either sold off to shortline operators who were mostly
underfunded, or abandoned them entirely.
Any thought of passenger rail, at any speed, must be on the current
mainlines of the major lines. Most of the branch lines are only good for
25mph. Countries with successful passenger trains generally have dedicated
tracks that are entirely grade separated. The possibilities of new rail
lines in the US are slim indeed, due to the difficulty of obtaining ground
for them. The costs would be prohibitive.
No one more than I would like a vibrant system of passenger rail in the US,
but I realize the economic and political realities preclude it. There are
areas of high population density that are trying very hard. Most interesting
is the State of New Mexico purchasing a stretch of Santa FE mainline for
commuter service. The possibility for passenger rail to extend from
Albuquerque to Denver is real, if distant.
Bill Pearce
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