Comments on: High-Speed Rail in China and California [VIDEOS]

By: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Focusing on High-Speed Rail in Florida – CleanTechnica: Cleantech innovation news and views

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:37:11 +0000

[…] However, in addition to John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, incoming Florida Governor Rick Scott is the other newly-elected Republican who has had a hard time identifying the clear economic benefits of one of the world’s key transportation options of the future (and of the present in many countries, like China). […]

By: Is California’s High-Speed Rail Getting More or Less Money Under the New Congress? – CleanTechnica: Cleantech innovation news and views

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:02:02 +0000

[…] a transformative transportation project like this — the largest public works project in California in 50 years — is sure to continue facing some opposition, I would say that California’s […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:51:56 +0000

Haha, nice

yes it does

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:36:15 +0000

Man, the video for the Chinese high-speed train looks so much more realistic than the one for California… Oh wait…

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:27:08 +0000

thanks, Jesse. yes, that last record is the one mentioned in the article above. i slipped and left out the rather important word “over” in this article (am going in to fix that now).. for some reason, i have it in the first article i wrote on this subject (linked above) but left it out in this one — not sure how that happened.

nonetheless, your info brings up the point that such statements should probably be qualified with more technical or specific language such as “unmodified commercial trainset”

Thank You

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:35:41 +0000

By the way everything is succinctly listed here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail#Maximum_speed_records

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:08:55 +0000

thanks for digging that info up. i was shocked with the initial video that you shared. it seems to get a little hazy with these records & see a lot of different claims.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:44:38 +0000

Self edit:

I found on wikipedia that the 416.6 km/h record set in china is the current world record holder for unmodified commercial trainset. Of course this is still not it’s normal operational speed.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 10:32:12 +0000

Roger, I am intending to come back to this in a full post — there is a lot to cover here

By: Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:05:31 +0000

I don’t understand why they keep saying China has the high speed world record with 400 km/h because the TGV in France set the record in 2007 at 574.8 km/h.

Here’s video of it:

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:32:50 +0000

I’m enthusiastic about rail. Streetcars, Trains, even trollies (bus like vehicles with overhead power & return lines). No wonder that I’m for such mode of transportation.

Unless we modify our living concept away from the cul-de-sac communities, and build around an identifiable, walkable town center, I see no desire on the part of most Americans to go for new, extensive, even hi speed rail travel.

New concept living communities rail connection could be established. Technically not a problem. Politically and from the aspect of right of way this idea may not be feasible or may be unsurmountable.

By: hehe

hehe — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:03:26 +0000

HSR in California is a day dream, California Dream!
In USA, they even can’t build a railway tunnel between New Jersey and New York, how can you expect them to build a HSR? Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may be interested with HSR but the next governor will kill the project just like Governor Chris Christie did! As a friend, I think you better advise your friend be prepared to lose her job very soon.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:01:56 +0000

Mike, thanks a lot for your input. I didn’t ride Amtrak for a long time because I heard how horrible it was. Finally rode it & discovered it was super comfy and convenient. Of course, shorter travel times & lower prices would be nice, but as you implied, could have had them if we invested in it when everyone else was. Even now, there is so much opposition to building a 21st century rail system instead of building more roads that will just get clogged and cause more headaches, stress, health problems, environmental problems, and economic losses

By: Roger L

Roger L — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:37:18 +0000

Hey Zach: Maybe you can concentrate on how long it is going to take to put the California High Speed Rail line in service, many years. Maybe then you can detail the clear differences and advantages that the Chinese have in getting projects such as this completed (environmental rules, right of ways etc)vs what can normally be accomplished in the US, especially in highly regulated California. Additionally, you might then be able to digest current discussion in the San Gabriel Valley (East of Los Angeles)(where I live) where many communities are just not sure they WANT the High speed rail line running through their cities. This is not to say everyone is opposed, but I can tell you THERE is NOT overwhelming community support for the proposed line. Additionally, recent press reports seem to downplay the overly generous projections of the High Speed Rail Authority on passenger loads and costs for travel as being very high and low ball on the actual ticket costs that will occur.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:28:59 +0000

I live in northern Virginia and work in downtown DC but all my family lives in the Delaware area. When I want to visit, it’s only two hours away but driving really takes it toll! I’ve taken Amtrak once and its was great except it cost $88 one way. Driving proves to be cheaper and that’s currently my focus.

It makes me really wish we invested more in rail than highways, every other country seems to be doing very well with with rail system. Less congestion on roads, I can sleep or read during my travel/commute, shorter travel time… There are just so many benefits!

If this rail plan takes off in CA, I can only hope the North East would be soon to follow. Thanks for the article!