Comments on: $545 Million For Rail Upgrade From Slow To Mediocre-Speed http://dtraleigh.com/2010/01/545-million-for-rail-upgrade-from-slow-to-medoicre-speed/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:37:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Steve http://dtraleigh.com/2010/01/545-million-for-rail-upgrade-from-slow-to-medoicre-speed/comment-page-1/#comment-3276 Steve Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:03:16 +0000 http://dtraleigh.com/?p=1737#comment-3276 I think this is good news for North Carolina and I think it makes a lot of sense. I don't think the southeast is ready for true high speed rail for a number of reasons. 1. Both Raleigh and Charlotte have terrible train stations with terrible locations. Charlotte's is located in a seedy area far from Uptown, as you mentioned Raleigh's is too small. If and when both cities build their new transit centers (both located close to the downtown areas) and both transit centers connect to buses or light rail or some other public transit that allows travelers to get from the train station to their hotel/house/office or whatever, then we'll be ready for real fast trains. 2. The southeast is growing up but it's not yet "mature" as I would call it. We have one real city down here and that's Atlanta. Other places, especially the Northeast Corridor, have several major cities (5 between Boston and DC at a distance about as far as DC to Charlotte, which has exactly one city, DC). Richmond, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte are all growing but even Charlotte is just under 2 million people, smaller than the four metro areas in the northeast (with DC and Baltimore being one). I have ridden the Carolinian and it's constantly delayed, so double tracking and improved crossings, if they can actually cut the trip by an hour or more, would do wonders, and downtown train stations (so if I want to head down to Charlotte for a Panthers game or an expo at the new Modern Art Museum I could do so without any hassle) would also be fantastic. We're not looking for high speed rail, we're looking for modern rail. And most people don't realize that in Europe only major cities (Paris to London, etc) are connected by 200 mph trains, most of the lines are closer to 100 mph. Since we have no major cities (yet), this means averaging 90 mph or so would be about on part with similar routes in countries with legitimate high speed trains. I think this is good news for North Carolina and I think it makes a lot of sense. I don’t think the southeast is ready for true high speed rail for a number of reasons. 1. Both Raleigh and Charlotte have terrible train stations with terrible locations. Charlotte’s is located in a seedy area far from Uptown, as you mentioned Raleigh’s is too small. If and when both cities build their new transit centers (both located close to the downtown areas) and both transit centers connect to buses or light rail or some other public transit that allows travelers to get from the train station to their hotel/house/office or whatever, then we’ll be ready for real fast trains. 2. The southeast is growing up but it’s not yet “mature” as I would call it. We have one real city down here and that’s Atlanta. Other places, especially the Northeast Corridor, have several major cities (5 between Boston and DC at a distance about as far as DC to Charlotte, which has exactly one city, DC). Richmond, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte are all growing but even Charlotte is just under 2 million people, smaller than the four metro areas in the northeast (with DC and Baltimore being one). I have ridden the Carolinian and it’s constantly delayed, so double tracking and improved crossings, if they can actually cut the trip by an hour or more, would do wonders, and downtown train stations (so if I want to head down to Charlotte for a Panthers game or an expo at the new Modern Art Museum I could do so without any hassle) would also be fantastic. We’re not looking for high speed rail, we’re looking for modern rail. And most people don’t realize that in Europe only major cities (Paris to London, etc) are connected by 200 mph trains, most of the lines are closer to 100 mph. Since we have no major cities (yet), this means averaging 90 mph or so would be about on part with similar routes in countries with legitimate high speed trains.

]]> By: Lucy http://dtraleigh.com/2010/01/545-million-for-rail-upgrade-from-slow-to-medoicre-speed/comment-page-1/#comment-3259 Lucy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:29:24 +0000 http://dtraleigh.com/?p=1737#comment-3259 My question is , what happens when you get off the train? The reason that trains work in Europe and elsewhere is that there is a connecting grid within that city, such as DC or NYC etc. We don't have that here, so even if its high speed it will get you nowhere fast. People are not going to give up their cars unless they have reliable public transit within the city. We have a long way to go with this. My question is , what happens when you get off the train? The reason that trains work in Europe and elsewhere is that there is a connecting grid within that city, such as DC or NYC etc. We don’t have that here, so even if its high speed it will get you nowhere fast. People are not going to give up their cars unless they have reliable public transit within the city. We have a long way to go with this.

]]> By: Adam http://dtraleigh.com/2010/01/545-million-for-rail-upgrade-from-slow-to-medoicre-speed/comment-page-1/#comment-3257 Adam Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:28:16 +0000 http://dtraleigh.com/?p=1737#comment-3257 One reason why the 110mph number is weak is that it's a top speed number. Amtrak already hits close to 80mph on that trip anyway. I completely agree that 200+mph is true high-speed. Plus, being able to say I've been in a car going close to that number, it really doesn't seem all that fast. One reason why the 110mph number is weak is that it’s a top speed number. Amtrak already hits close to 80mph on that trip anyway. I completely agree that 200+mph is true high-speed.

Plus, being able to say I’ve been in a car going close to that number, it really doesn’t seem all that fast.

]]> By: Kevin http://dtraleigh.com/2010/01/545-million-for-rail-upgrade-from-slow-to-medoicre-speed/comment-page-1/#comment-3256 Kevin Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:32:47 +0000 http://dtraleigh.com/?p=1737#comment-3256 I don't get what happened to Amtrak rates. Back in 2000 I took a train from Raleigh to Charlotte and back. Total cost was under $20. Maybe it's fuel. Ahh, back in the day. I don’t get what happened to Amtrak rates. Back in 2000 I took a train from Raleigh to Charlotte and back. Total cost was under $20. Maybe it’s fuel. Ahh, back in the day.

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