So, the private company Brightline has become another member of the private-public partnership club. That dooms any possibility of it being a profitable enterprise. ... .High-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas, Southern California has been granted $3 billion.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the allocation of funds from a California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) $80 million award for one battery-equipped electric multiple unit train (BEMU) and the associated research and development.
Thanks for this. Tons of excellent detail that I did not know.
A story about Amtrak's Northeast corridor Acela (fast-ish) train service:
My Japanese friend emailed at some point to say he was visiting my area, so we made plans for our families to get together. He speaks no English, we get by with my (mediocre) Japanese from grad school. It turns out that Amtrak contacted Japan because they don't know what is wrong with the Acela trains. The trains are breaking at an unprecedented rate. So, they sent an SOS to Japan. Japan sent a team of Shinkansen engineers over to figure it out. My friend was stressed because he said the whole reason he went into engineering was that he had no talent for foreign languages, English. Now he found himself having to give a presentation to some US government org.
Summary: The old tracks were not meant for these high-speed trains, so both the tracks and the trains are breaking apart. And we needed to bring a team of Japanese engineers to tell us this. On the upside, the guys enjoyed the Eastern Shore and steamed crabs. They told me not to ride the Acela. I pass along that advice.
Saturday's Energy Absurdity: The Latest on the California 'Bullet Train' is too Absurd for Words
https://blackmon.substack.com/p/saturdays-energy-absurdity-the-latest
What I learned from taking a train across the US
https://youtu.be/von_IMi97-w
So, the private company Brightline has become another member of the private-public partnership club. That dooms any possibility of it being a profitable enterprise. ... .High-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas, Southern California has been granted $3 billion.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/05/la-las-vegas-high-speed-rail-project-scores-3-billion-funding/71819342007/
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the allocation of funds from a California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) $80 million award for one battery-equipped electric multiple unit train (BEMU) and the associated research and development.
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/article/53069821/caltrain-to-pilot-first-batteryequipped-electric-multiple-unit-train
US House Republicans seek to block California high-speed rail funds
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-seek-block-california-high-speed-rail-funds-2023-10-30/
High-speed rail is a huge opportunity for American workers
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4181866-high-speed-rail-is-a-huge-opportunity-for-american-workers/
At least California's nonexistent high-speed rail loves diversity https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/at-least-californias-nonexistent-high-speed-rail-loves-diversity
High-Speed Rail Is Unlikely to Play a Major Role In Achieving Climate Goals https://reason.org/commentary/high-speed-rail-is-unlikely-to-play-a-major-role-in-achieving-climate-goals/
The 10 highest paid Amtrak executives raked in six-figure bonuses in 2021 – in one instance nearly doubling a senior-level executive’s salary – despite the rail network struggling with low ridership and plummeting revenues. https://nypost.com/2022/10/05/amtraks-10-highest-earners-raked-in-six-figure-bonuses/
No Way to Build a Railroad https://washingtonmonthly.com/2022/06/20/larry-hogan-purple-line-fiasco/
Passenger rail authority fleeces taxpayers to the tune of $10 million https://www.themainewire.com/2019/10/passenger-rail-authority-fleeces-taxpayers-to-the-tune-of-10-million/
Thanks for this. Tons of excellent detail that I did not know.
A story about Amtrak's Northeast corridor Acela (fast-ish) train service:
My Japanese friend emailed at some point to say he was visiting my area, so we made plans for our families to get together. He speaks no English, we get by with my (mediocre) Japanese from grad school. It turns out that Amtrak contacted Japan because they don't know what is wrong with the Acela trains. The trains are breaking at an unprecedented rate. So, they sent an SOS to Japan. Japan sent a team of Shinkansen engineers over to figure it out. My friend was stressed because he said the whole reason he went into engineering was that he had no talent for foreign languages, English. Now he found himself having to give a presentation to some US government org.
Summary: The old tracks were not meant for these high-speed trains, so both the tracks and the trains are breaking apart. And we needed to bring a team of Japanese engineers to tell us this. On the upside, the guys enjoyed the Eastern Shore and steamed crabs. They told me not to ride the Acela. I pass along that advice.