High-speed rail: Biden praises Midwest plan to enhance passenger train system

[marmar]

from the Chicago Tribune:



High-speed rail: Biden praises Midwest plan to enhance passenger train system
Federal officials laud Midwest pitch for upgrade funds

By Mike Dorning and Jon Hilkevitch | Tribune reporters
June 4, 2009


WASHINGTON -- Obama administration officials offered encouraging signs Wednesday that a proposed Midwest high-speed rail network based around a Chicago hub has an inside track on a significant piece of $8 billion to be distributed among 10 major U.S. projects.

Vice President Joe Biden lauded the Midwest proposal, which envisions passenger trains speeding through the region at 110 m.p.h., as "one of the most comprehensive plans that have been put forward so far."

The full 3,000-mile Midwest corridor system stretching over nine states would cost $9.6 billion to construct over 10 years, according to the latest estimate.

But "for $3.4 billion, you can get a big chunk of this plan done," Biden said in a conference call with reporters.

........

Regardless of how much money the Midwest project receives in the first round of funding, the initial phase of work in and around Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit would concentrate on eliminating slow zones, where Amtrak passenger trains often travel as slow as 10 m.p.h. because of freight train interference and antiquated tracks and signals.

The goal would be to increase those speeds to 30 to 50 m.p.h. initially and faster later, operating in accordance with the philosophy of rail experts that the key to going fast is to not go slow. ..........(more)

The complete piece is: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-midwest-highspeed-rail-04-jun04,0,7751889.story

[vadawg]

1. it would be nice to have bullet trains everywhere, i hate to fly and cant be bothered driving throug

crazy states like Maryland, Jersey etc so an efficent train system would be cool.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. I agree, I think a high speed rail system could replace short plane trips

since the time and energy it takes to get to and through an airport increases each year.

Fewer fliers makes security easier and might reverse the trend of ever expanding airports.

Also rail is more energy efficient.


I hope they develop a "hub and spoke" system similar to airlines.

[vadawg]

3. my kids want a fast rail link between the bottom of our garden and mickey mouses house

go figure.

[Cha]

4. This is such great news and will do

so much to enhance transportation and provide jobs..bring us into the 21st Century.

"Obama and Emanuel made funding for high-speed rail a priority in negotiations over the economic stimulus package. In addition to the $8 billion secured in the economic stimulus, the White House has asked for another $5 billion over the next five years."

[seabeckind]

5. This is a wonderful start

but I'm afraid that until we break the stranglehold the corptocracy has on our country we won't accomplish any extensive change.

For example, Indianapolis just completed a shiny new airport terminal costing $1.1bln. If you look at a map and look at the flights into and out of Indy, it doesn't need an airport at all -- if there were a high speed train link to Chicago, Detroit, St Louis, etc.

The terminal is a god-awful distance from downtown, no transit -- maybe a bus, I don't know. Indy is one of the most car dominated places I've lived.

Indy also recently expanded the lanes on their outside loop to provide high speed travel for single person SUVs to their suburban spawl. Again, an automotive hell.

If someone were really in charge of planning... Not someone controlled by developers and contractors...

That's why Europe and Japan have bullet trains, and mass transit designed to move people (not freight), and healthcare...