Check this out:
http://www.america2050.org/pdf/HSR-in-America-Complete.pdf
High level demand modelling and ranking of passenger rail corridors based on demand.
Interesting.
An, “if all other things are equal, where would people try to use rail if it were available” approach.
Interesting.
Thanks for the timely posting. Demand-based planning is what is needed. Unfortunately, for some reason, I cannot get it to download!!
The server that is sending it appears to be very slow. Start it and go shovel the driveway from a dose of sneet & frain and when you get done it will be loaded.
Thanks for the advice. Today it loaded in less than one minute.
People in the US ride trains because they are there. With some trains, like with the Lake Shore, they ride it because it is the only train from NY to Chicago. Passenger rails service is used to the extent itis provided, less because it is not a service that can be operated by a large group of people like a Congress. If HSR were to be provided, it would be use up to the limit of service. Acela is proving that here already. What is lacking in this country is investors who have the time to put the money down, build the plant, buy the equipment, and provide the service; it takes too long to get a return on investment.
One advantage air travel has over rail in changing market conditions is that if the passenger market between A & D becomes non-existent, the airlines just stop providing flights. Rail has the infrastructure of the route the must either be maintained to serviceable levels or abandoned…in either case, significant investment is required to build and maintain a right of way between A & D.
For the air carriers, so long as there are terminals at A & D - flights from anywhere can use those terminals without any ‘right of way costs’ in getting to the terminals.