The various segments en route make more sense for ridership than the full length.
although it may make more sense to some of us in the USA it may be entirely different in china. we will have to wait and see what the ridership figures are reported disclose ( if china ever releases the various segment figures ). this seems to be about the distance from WASH; PHL; NYP - Chicago ?
edit — actually wash is only 54%
phl 58%
nyp 67%
my bad
1428 miles is like Chicago to Miami.
It is hard for me to imagine realistically getting high speed rail between Chicago and any east coast city.
John — Not in the next 30 years unless there is some thing that occurrs that would change the public perception. As someone who is much wiser has said " look 10 years out and you can just barely tell what the future will be; 20 years no way " 30 years wow ?
chicago - miami in 8 hrs ? or more realistic chicago - orlando. would that ever change the surface transportation thinking in this country ?
If Chicago to Miami requires changing planes an 8 hour train ride would be competitive with flying.
Might be a worthy goal, but do as China did by building some of the segments first and eventually connecting them. As the article states, the line will be extended on to Hong Kong next. But these things require the vision to see then as an investment for economic development, not just another expense, and then the will to make it happen.
of course !!!
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/752363.shtml
The new train made its inaugural run today (Wednesday). Link shows some pictures. It is hard to imagine that this sort of service, even with a somewhat lower top speed (this HSR is 186 mph and the average sustained speed is about 175) would not be very successful in appropriate, shorter corridors here.
Thanks for the pictures, Schlimm. I noticed the 3 and 2 seating. Perhaps the tracks are broad gauge.
AFAIK, the Chinese gauge is standard 4’ 8" TGV’s, at least some, are also 3-2 seating. ICE’s in Germany are 2-2. Perhaps it depends on passenger size?
New Jersey Transit has a lot of 3 and 2 coaches. The three seat side is so crowded than many people will stand rather than take the center seat. I find it pretty uncomfortable. However, that is commuter service with much lower fares than premium service. I’m surprised that an extra fare would get a person such a crowded seat.
And has been demonstrated time after time Congress and State Legislatures could be declared legally blind when it comes to have VISION!