Why don't we have high speed rail ?
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Mike Nasty
Veteran
I've done that trip. There was security (like a fake Chinese version of TSA, but everyone just pushed through a metal detector) and it wasn't quick, it took all day.
thats not a valid excuse
we don't even have a comparable train network for similarity sized areas that are just as populated/dense.
1/15
@martianwyrdlord
Driving: have to continuously pay attention to the highway. Can't do anything but drive.
Flying: TSA. Tiny seats. shytty food. Did I mention the TSA?
Train: no security, you just walk right on. Don't need to pay attention, just sit there, read a book, enjoy the scenery.
[Quoted tweet]
Who in God's name would take a train from New York to LA? Either fly or drive. A train is the worst aspects of both experiences combined, with the benefits of neither.
2/15
@6SpeedHypnotist
Driving nourishes the spirit and restores one's mastery of the physical. It is a dance with danger, self directed. Riding a train is squirting yourself into a casing like sausage meat. Degrading, meaningless.
3/15
@WallpaperKeith
Have you never travelled on a sleeper service with a bar and dining car? Private compartments? The sounds of a station at night as you stir in your bed at 3am? Morning coffee from the attendant served in your cabin? Trains can be a wonderful way to travel.
4/15
@6SpeedHypnotist
I have not had that chance, and my fear that we will soon lose personal automobile travel prevents me from indulging in such a treat. But you have a way with words. That sounds nice, if only as an occasional respite from the responsibility of self-steering one's transportation.
5/15
@WallpaperKeith
When I am emperor, all long distance trains will look like the Orient Express:
6/15
@6SpeedHypnotist
That is a beautiful train-car. Is that a real picture? My train knowledge is limited.
7/15
@WallpaperKeith
It is from an older build of the Orient Express. The new train design can be seen at Train Orient Express | Orient Express, trains de luxe depuis 1883
It is quite something.
8/15
@6SpeedHypnotist
I am not a fan of trains for spiritual reasons. My bias may be because I am an American. Our trains (as far as I know) are not nearly so nice. Driving a car is one of the only brave things we have left. It's vitally important. But I would enjoy a ride on that train.
9/15
@WallpaperKeith
The idea that train travel isn't very American is a modern idea. Your network used to be incredibly extensive. This is a 1930's map of ONLY the main routes, not the minor lines.
Your network was decimated because of pressure from the (subsidised) road lobby - it was a choice.
10/15
@dryborer
Roads mean freedom and individualism. Trains mean that someone else decides when you leave, how fast you go, and how often you stop. It's no mystery why Americans said no thanks to that.
11/15
@martianwyrdlord
And airports mean what?
Americans weren't really given a choice. Their trains were dismantled.
12/15
@Americanism4you
Automobiles and airplanes are better, there are no two ways around it.
Before automobiles and planes, obviously trains were going to dominate.
13/15
@6SpeedHypnotist
General Motors streetcar conspiracy - Wikipedia
They did this with streetcars in the cities too.
14/15
@Purrpatrol
It was a good choice. I love car trips. Loud music, Pringles, great scenery and freedom.
15/15
@SlicinHammer
Yes, the 1930s when commercial flight was just getting off the ground. What was your point again?
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1/3
@Kanthan2030
10,000 km:
Length of high-speed rail in China when Xi Jinping became the President (in 2013)
42,000+ km — Today
And it was 0 km in 2007!
A decade in China is like a century in other countries.
Those who don’t understand the “Speed of China,” are doomed to failure.
2/3
@MartinLZinn
Imagine the size and scope of this transformation, its mind blowing.
A country using its wealth to do something constructive.
3/3
@sudhee_sylt
Infrastructures build civilizations and create jobs.
This is THE most important metric to establish healthy/progressive societies...
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Thinking about this I do really so a lot of abandoned train tracks when driving. I wonder how many we have across the country that could be refitted for a highspeed rail(not a train nor transportation expert obviously)
So what you're saying is that America, just like with a lot of our other issues, is too deep in the hole to correct the issue for the far foreseeable future
?I'm sorry, but I really don't see how we're going to remain the premier superpower for the next 50 years. The only thing we have is our military and American pop culture. If China laps us in pop culture, we might be fúcked.
Our prestige isn't even what it was 10 years ago. People hear that you're American and hit a
nowadays.
Vandelay
Life is absurd. Lean into it.
That's a fair assessment. Honestly, other countries are getting fed up with her polarized the US has become. We plan in 4 year cycles. There's no no way to grow "an empire" if the political and commercial pendulum swings wildly every 4 years.So what you're saying is that America, just like with a lot of our other issues, is too deep in the hole to correct the issue for the far foreseeable future
I'm sorry, but I really don't see how we're going to remain the premier superpower for the next 50 years. The only thing we have is our military and American pop culture. If China laps us in pop culture, we might be fúcked.
Our prestige isn't even what it was 10 years ago. People hear that you're American and hit a
However, China has several things working against it...1, their population is expected to decrease by 500 million in the next 60-80 years...everything they are building can't be paid for (think Evergrand times 100), 2, China is a middle income country, their GDP per capita is lower than Mexico's; GDP per capita is a more important metric than GDP because it means you can purchase and often manufacture more complex finished goods. 3, China at present lacks the innovative capacity to overtake the US. Pretty much everything they made, came from the US or a western nation first. It's kind of hard to be the dominant superpower when everything you do is based off of a western power.
Honestly, I could give you 4 or 5 more reasons why they most likely won't overtake the US. The more likely scenario is BRICS does actually become a thing, but because all the member countries like the US to varying degrees, they'll probably end up gridlocking each to an extent never significantly pass the US. Saudi Arabia doesn't want to buy Chinese military equipment. India doesn't want to lose the gains from tech and call center employment. China needs a consumer base that has more disposable income to purchase their low quality mass produced Shein/Temu shyt. Brazil likes their western tourism. And Russian oligarchs are annoyed that they've been largely excommunicated from western society.
Same reason Biden put up 100% tarrifs on Chinese EVs
Cause the auto industry bought him and other politicians in Washington
This country is cooked.
Cause the auto industry bought him and other politicians in Washington
This country is cooked.
In Cali (Dem) - so many different issues, but one of their politicians was super proficient and got the train to come to him - which messed up the line as a whole.
In the Northeast (Dem) - Amtrak Exists, most cities have subways, Acela exists - but making high speed rail happen (and the upgrades needed for it to happen) are "too" expensive.
In TX (Repub) - A certain # of politicians and Land owners have been against it.
The general public is has also been bamboozled into the idea that the trains need to pay for themselves (all travel in the US - air, road, sea - is heavily subsidized by the Government), which is also the same dumb idea of running government as a business. We see how dumb that idea is in healthcare as well as education...
In the Northeast (Dem) - Amtrak Exists, most cities have subways, Acela exists - but making high speed rail happen (and the upgrades needed for it to happen) are "too" expensive.
In TX (Repub) - A certain # of politicians and Land owners have been against it.
The general public is has also been bamboozled into the idea that the trains need to pay for themselves (all travel in the US - air, road, sea - is heavily subsidized by the Government), which is also the same dumb idea of running government as a business. We see how dumb that idea is in healthcare as well as education...
Because politricks. One clear indicator of the political system being bullshyt is when there are things that suppporters of both parties agree with that still don’t get done. So it’s not a republican/democrat thing.
Mike Nasty
Veteran
By that logic wouldn't they try and decimate the airline industry even harder?
What is the public, alternative option to commercial flights?
Mike Nasty
Veteran
Long distant innercity passenger rail. The ones the freight railroads got rid of in the 60s.
Environmentalists wouldn't let it happen anyways
Nah...can't totally blame Republicans for this one.
Read up on what happened/happening with the California LA to San Francisco rail line (A state Run by Democrats and the project has the backing of the federal government)
Just pure incompetence, red-tape, regulations, sky-rocketing cost, local governments getting in the way, etc...
We just can't seem to do big shyt anymore in this country. China pulling shyt off in record time and probably at a fraction of the cost. Oh...and if shyt goes wrong, somebody's going to jail or getting executed
The one thing i only slightly give credit to the talking points of the right wing, elon crowd is this...if you want to do shyt, you just gotta do it...fukk all the red tape and two years studies and local ordinances and whatever else. JUST BUILD THE shyt
Read up on what happened/happening with the California LA to San Francisco rail line (A state Run by Democrats and the project has the backing of the federal government)
Just pure incompetence, red-tape, regulations, sky-rocketing cost, local governments getting in the way, etc...
We just can't seem to do big shyt anymore in this country. China pulling shyt off in record time and probably at a fraction of the cost. Oh...and if shyt goes wrong, somebody's going to jail or getting executed
The one thing i only slightly give credit to the talking points of the right wing, elon crowd is this...if you want to do shyt, you just gotta do it...fukk all the red tape and two years studies and local ordinances and whatever else. JUST BUILD THE shyt
That's not an alternative to interstate and continental flights