Much of the discussion about High Speed Rail centers on route alternatives. Pacheco vs. Altamont, East Bay vs. Peninsula... All worthy discussions. However, some alternative thinking on the subject has barely even had its surfaces scratched.
For example, many rail experts believe, and have for some time, that the new generation of technology emerging for rail is not exclusively electrification but a hybrid locomotive capable of toggling between electric power and diesel, much like our Hybrid passenger motor vehicles function today. There has been no investigation or discussion about this possibility. Its relevance is in direct proportion to the alternatives of deep tunneling and its feasibility.
Another discussion took place for about 2 minutes recently. The premise is to make the system more economically sustainable. Take a look:
"Its relevance is in direct proportion to the alternatives of deep tunneling and its feasibility."
???
Posted by: Ron Fulderon | April 27, 2010 at 12:29 PM
The Thompson video must not be ignored by our state reps. We have no money yet everyone seems to be in denial, especially HSR. Is there any hope this whole project will be cancelled (and perhaps divert the monies already allocated to inter-urban improvements)?
Posted by: JF | April 28, 2010 at 08:51 AM
As mentioned here before for anyone who really wants to read about CAHSR in depth there are other blogs dedicated specifically to this monster.
This one http://www.cahsrblog.com/ is very pro High Cost Rail. But some of the comments there are pretty good counter arguments to the debt deniers.
The latest posting talks a bit more about the China influence and brings up some details of prop 1a that I was not aware.
Posted by: Ron Fulderon | April 29, 2010 at 07:32 AM
Has anyone read the California's State Auditor Report just released? Here's the link--very skeptical of HSR planning.
http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/2009-106
Posted by: JF | April 29, 2010 at 02:38 PM
This letter from the SM Journal does a good job at pointing out how the HSR mess has gotten that way.
Editor,
Caltrain can thank Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California High-Speed Rail Authority for their current electrification dilemma. The $1.1 billion federal stimulus application for local rail upgrades like electrification was axed by our governor in the 11th hour, in favor of funding only High-Speed Rail (HSR).
Shame on Caltrain for failing to exert necessary political pressure to get their fair share and who instead tied their fate to HSR. Shame on labor union leaders who missed this funding omission for shovel-ready projects and now show up at every HSR meeting conceivable to rant about jobs that are years away. Whether transit, education or health care — let’s remember folks, we’re all in this together. Don’t ask Californians to blindly support the over-marketed and under-funded HSR project and bankrupt our state, in the name of saving local commuter rail and mythical job creation. The irony? Without a healthy local rail system, HSR will not succeed. This is a fact on which high-speed rail is based worldwide. Now, when labor unions and Caltrain show up to press for high-speed rail, I ask, “where were you when the governor cut your lifeline to jobs and electrification last year?”
Betsy McGinn,
Burlingame
Posted by: Russ | April 30, 2010 at 07:37 AM
She hits the nail on the head. Linking funding for local rail with this high speed boondoggle is silly.
Posted by: transit | April 30, 2010 at 11:42 AM