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California may bypass Tehachapis on high speed rail route
the most direct and fastest route is the best idea regardless of cost.
the most direct and fastest route is the best idea regardless of cost.
While we talk and chat, the rest of the world is already BUILDING highspeed rail at a rapid rate. Each year we fall further behind the curve. And yes, Tehachapi is likely the correct option by 25-30 mi.
California needs to wake up and smell the coffee! The low friction, fuel efficiency of flanged steel wheel on steel rail tells the story in a single sentence. While we fiddle irreplaceable petroleum burns!
For some 70 years or more the Tehachapi route made no sense for passenger rail. Why does it suddenly seem so practical? And why not the Coast route, the historically used passenger rail route? I rode the Coast Starlight on it, and aside from the fact that we seemed to spend more time on a siding than moving, and then click-clacking slowly over ancient track, it appears to be a great route. But the way California is proceeding, the debate is academic. They have yet to purchase an acre of land for the venture. Instead they are frittering away the funds on improving track for local rail services.
The Coast Route is not a good choice for fast trains, and wont serve as much of the state’s population. It’s very scenic. But for high speed, the San Joaquin Valley route is the obvious choice. Anyway you look at it, though, California’s geography does present problems. No getting around that!
The Coast Route is not a good choice for fast trains, and wont serve as much of the state’s population. It’s very scenic. But for high speed, the San Joaquin Valley route is the obvious choice. Anyway you look at it, though, California’s geography does present problems. No getting around that!
Reporter needs to learn some basic Calif. geography. “The Grapevine” is, in fact, part of the Tehachapi Mtns. It’s near the west end. Tehachapi Pass is at the east end. The Tehachapis separate the San Joaquin Valley from the LA Basin and the high Mojave Desert. Obviously Tehachapi Pass is a poor choice to build HSR if you’re planning to access SF to LA in only 2 and a half hours. The smart choice is the Grapevine, or Tejon Pass. The I-5 corridor would be the shortest route; you want a short route, right? There could be topographical difficulties, of course. This IS California! Also, Pacheco Pass presents a topographical challenge; I think it would require miles of tunneling. Best approach to Bay Area is the traditional one by way of the Altamont region to the East Bay, across bridge to SF Peninsula, and north to the city. Also, why so many stops enroute? HSRA means high speed, doesn’t it? Too many stops eats up too much time in a schedule. A child can see that. Let’s get it right before we start construction!
A line next to highway #138 from North of Lancaster to Gorman would be easy as there is a lot of open range. I flew over the mountain areas in my Cessna going north many times and I saw a lot of possibilities of getting into the San Joaquin Valley through some of the passes with some tunneling. That would give you a straight shot to the Bakersfield Amtrak Station.
A line next to highway #138 from North of Lancaster to Gorman would be easy as there is a lot of open range. I flew over the mountain areas in my Cessna going north many times and I saw a lot of possibilities of getting into the San Joaquin Valley through some of the passes with some tunneling. That would give you a straight shot to the Bakersfield Amtrak Station.
no link to san diego is upsetting…good luck. no investors have touched this project
The original concept proposed and passed by the people of California was to provide a fastest, direct route between LA and SF. (along with the bond to finance it). It was to be a conjestion solution to the airline/airport conflicts.
That route at the time was considered the Coast Starlight Route and to improve the right of way to high speed service.
The LA to SF (and vice versa) volume of traffic was versus the airlines volume.
The services to the rest of the state was not the considered issue and would be serviced in a parallel manner as the San Joaquin trains would be updated and connected to LA.
Somewhere along the way the politicians decided they wanted in on the good idea. And now look at the cluster … that has turned into.
I agree with Castor’s idea about the coast route not being good for high speed trains. I am a retired train dispatcher off the SPRR. I like the idea this would be competing with the airlines. Get somebody who knows what he is talking about.
I agree with Castor’s idea about the coast route not being good for high speed trains. I am a retired train dispatcher off the SPRR. I like the idea this would be competing with the airlines. Get somebody who knows what he is talking about.