California’s 220 MPH High-Speed Train Will Be Emissions-Free
As if the announcement of a high-speed rail line that will go from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 hours and 40 minutes isn’t exciting enough, Navigant Consulting now claims that the bullet train can run with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the energy consulting firm, the train’s expected usage of 3,350 GWh each year can easily be generated using renewable energy resources in California. The rail line’s energy consumption will be about one percent of the state’s total energy usage—not bad considering its speed, convenience, and potential for widespread use.
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The 800-mile bullet train system is being built by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. By 2030, the 220 MPH high-speed trains will carry up to 100 million passengers per year. The ultimate fate of the project will be decided this November, when the state’s $9.95 billion bond measure for the train is voted upon.
It’s hard to comprehend the reduction in carbon emissions that will occur once the train is running—just think about the effect of even one quarter of the people who would normally drive or fly across the state opting for high-speed rail. And why wouldn’t they want to take a train that drastically cuts travel time and eliminates the hassles of sitting in traffic and trekking through airport security? I know I’ll be first in line.
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>Joel
Of course trains are a easy targets. Look at the terrorist attacs in madrid or london. you can carry a bomb on any train in europe, and nobody can do anthing against it. there are many other places in modern society where large groups of people assemble.
for excample sport-stadiums, cinema, etc.
but the main reason for those insane security chechpoints in airports, is fear of flight. the largest end densest group of people (best target for terrorists) at an airport are the people waiting in line in front of the security check point.
you cant prevent terrorist attacks with security check points, without turning your country in a police state.
a better solution: work on the causes of terrorism. terrorism has three main causes: hate, fear of loss of cultural identity and poverty. by killing people in the middle east, occupying regions of the middle east and destroiing infrastructure and private property, the usa is doing everything necessary for increasing the terrorist problem.
I live in France. Showing a fellow American the TGV is like passing out Polaroids in a jungle village, yet this technology has been around for years. So have diesel cars. We’ve let our leadership, in cohoots with our corporations, screw us. I hope that in the future we will learn to demand a more reasonable society and to appreciate the good ideas other people have.
China builds their lines in a couple of years.
High-speed rail is probably the safest form of transportation. The tracks are not shared with freight trains.
Check out my blog entry on HSR
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/
Surely such a long distance high speed track will be damaged over time by tectonic movements until eventually the train hits a piece of tremor-damaged track and has a nasty accident.
The high speed line will open in segments. 2030 is the projected completion date for the entire system. The first segment, SF-LA would open in 2020 if prop 1A is approved in November.
“Surely such a long distance high speed track will be damaged over time by tectonic movements until eventually the train hits a piece of tremor-damaged track and has a nasty accident.”
After any moderate sized earthquake passenger tracks near the epicenter are inspected and trains are ordered to travel at restricted speed (15-20 MPH).
Like everything else, I’ll believe it when I see it. 2030? Why not 2010? We’ve got money for everything else, (700B bailout, Iraq war, foriegn handouts, etc.) but this country continues to slag behind. In 2030 this technology will be outdated. Let’s get going America. This country is a big mess! Build the train now! Get some of these cars off the road and ease the airline industry. (Clean our air as well) China already has this train, no dought, it’s better!
You guys have probably all seen the virtual tour of the rail but…http://www.caivp.org/video/san-diego-waterfront/2009/1/22/california-high-speed-rail-visual-tour