Biden promised a 'railroad revolution' that could see faster trains and a return to Amtrak's

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

nostalgic past — here's what Americans might see

President-elect Joe Biden is no stranger to America's rail system.

Having used Amtrak to commute between Washington, DC and his home in Delaware for decades during his time as a US senator, the frequent rider earned the nickname "Amtrak Joe," as the New York Times reported. He even chartered an Amtrak train during his successful 2020 presidential campaign for a whistle-stop tour through the Rust Belt.

In 2016, one of his last acts as vice president was helping secure funding for Amtrak through a $2.45 billion loan for the Northeast Corridor, the name for Amtrak's line between Boston and Washington along which numerous major cities lie, the Associated Press reported. The loan was the largest ever in the Department of Transportation's history with most of it going towards new Acela Express trains capable of traveling 186 miles per hour.

Come January 20, Biden will once again have the opportunity to help and improve the struggling rail system that's reported losses since its inception. On his campaign website, improving the country's railroads are a priority under Biden's clean energy initiatives where the president-elect advocates for a "second great railroad revolution."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-promised-railroad-revolution-could-134400412.html

Good idea. Problem is Republicans only pay lip service to infrastructure.

[Blue Owl]

1. All aboard with Amtrak Joe!

[lunasun]

2. Kick

[kimbutgar]

3. Been watching on the Smithsonian channel Mighty Trains

All over the world they have these awesome trains and the technology and innovations make our Amtrak look ghetto. I’ve rode on Italian railways system and it is more enjoyable than taking an airplane. We took our first trip from Venice Italy up to Zurich, Switzerland it was so gorgeous. We could revitalize our travel industry and lower our carbon footprint by improving train travel in this country and create jobs. The airline industry will be ok.

[mitch96]

4. "'railroad revolution' that could see faster trains"

We tried to get this going TWICE in Florida only to get it killed by Scott and the repuke legislature.
Passed by the electorate the repukes had to do a "feasibility" study to the tune of millions of dollars and many years of "work". It just faded away. I would assume the airline and trucking lobbies would not want high speed trains bumping into their profits.. follow the money...
m

[Initech]

12. We had a similar proposal in California in '18 and it failed as well.

Ours was a shitty proposal backed by some really shady people so it's pretty easy to see why it failed. I think under competent leadership we could get it done though.

[mitch96]

14. I'm no engineer and a hyperloop running on existing highway median swale.

You have access to the "route" and the dirt to build it on. Not too much environmental impact. Miami to Orlando up the florida turnpike? Daytona to Tampa along I-4? Miami to Jax? along I-95?
A thought...
m

[Klaralven]

5. High speed trains will require new rights of way. Very unlikely to happen.

Speeds over 90 mph require routes with wider curves than slow freight trains, although the higher power of high speed passenger trains does allow for steeper grades as a trade off.

It also requires grade separation. You don't want a 200 mph train hitting a heavy 18 wheeler carrying hazardous freight.

The trains and cars aren't the expensive part.

[not_the_one]

11. Then we better get started on solving the problems.

Or, we could just not do shit.



Now THAT is the republican way.

[Klaralven]

13. A good start would be to realign the Amtrak right-of-way from New York to Boston

Eastern Connecticut into Rhode Island would be a good place to start. There are a number of speed-limiting kinks between New Haven and Providence.

[Hortensis]

15. Okay! And maybe it'd be a good stretch to initiate "moving platforms"

where high-speed trains don't have to stop to take on passengers. What commuter wouldn't want that! Step by step.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I hope so.

We also need more north-south routes. I really ought to be able to take a train from New Mexico to Denver and points north without going through either Los Angeles or Chicago, which is how it is now.

I have taken the train several times in the past few years and just love it. I had a long train journey planned for back in April that didn't happen, alas. Perhaps I will be able to take it sometime a few years from now.

[Trueblue Texan]

7. There is so much work to be done in this nation...

...and so many people ready and willing to provide the labor. There is no shortage of value potential in this nation, only an unwillingness to provide the cash where the value can be developed. If we stop lining the pockets of the ultra-wealthy and start investing in our nation in ways that provide value for all of us, we will see an economic boom.

[cwydro]

8. I love trains.

Fingers crossed.

[tapper]

9. The Steel Interstate

Hope Biden’s group is talking to these people.

[link:https://www.steelinterstate.org]

[Initech]

10. I've long been an advocate of high speed rail. I support this!

And yes, air travel and rail travel can coexist. It works in Europe, Japan, China, Australia, and hell the rest of the world!