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California high speed project revised, price drops
Why didn’t anybody think of this earlier?
The “blended approach” is how the French built the TGV.
Saner plan. Saner (and cheaper) still would be San Fernando Valley to Gilroy via the I-5 corridor and Pacheco Pass, much lower construction costs and ROW acquisition without liability issues surrounding adjacent UP or BNSF freight rail tracks. But not politically feasible apparently.
The blended approach is a very good idea, the most expensive place to build new high speed lines is in densely built up cities. This mirrors what the French did in constructing their TGV lines, the fast tracks are out in the country and entry to cities is gained by using the existing lines.
This sounds much better. High speed trains in Europe use regular ROW to enter and exit large cities - nothing wrong with that and it saves money.
New Jersey Transit’s dual-model locomotives suggest that the trains could be powered in such a way as to take advantage of electrification where it’s in place, and run beyond the wires where the line is not yet electrified.
Now we’re talking just a mere $68.4 billion.
What a relief!
This is an INCREDIBLE deal, for not only the Citizens of California and the U.S., but for everyone travel to and through California. As millions will opt for rail rather than roads or flights, which not only will save the 130 billion or so it would cost to expand our highways should HSR not be built, but it is far cleaner as well. And they hope to complete the first 300 mile line within ten years! Lets hope it happen…
The price is a sliver of the cost of sending a few guys to Mars or, as some would have us, also sending and supporting some people to inhabit the moon.