- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
California issues an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) in preparation of buying trainsets capable of travelling around 220mph (355km/h), two prototypes, a simulator, spare parts and operational availability for 30 years. Timeline for revenue operation currently is at year 2030.
E: Official release from California government: https://hsr.ca.gov/2023/08/24/news-release-california-high-speed-rail-authority-moves-closer-to-buying-first-trainsets/
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Is there any specific reason someone might be against it beyond the cost?
Car lobby
The cost is admittedly going to be ludicrous compared to comparable projects anywhere else in the world.
But it’s probably more just ‘this is a thing that helps the godless commie city folk’.
I think the general arguments are noise and space required.
Though I fail to see how a train make more noise then a plane or tracks take up more space then a airport/runway.
Or compared to interstate highways
They have been conditioned to hate anything the government does. If some company like Tesla actually made an effective transit system everyone would sing its praises, but if the government does it then that’s socialism.
Nice! Implementation of high speed rail is needed to get the populace away from frequent wasteful flights
exactly, putting aside the economic benefits this will bring, the ecological impact is huge, especially compared to air travel.
Oh man, I’d love to just hop on a train from Seattle to the Bay Area. Leg room & naps all the way.
Why stop in the Bay? Imperial Beach is lovely, except in August and September. Then it gets up into the 80s and low 90s
80s and 90s is still good weather lol I just got done with a week of 100+ with heat index of 115+ in the Midwest, outside was death. Coastal California has optimal weather year round, it doesn’t actually get hot or cold from what I’ve seen
It’s pretty hot for us. We basically stay in the high 60s to high 70s for almost 10 months a year… Then Aug and Sept happen
Hopefully the implementation is done in a well and thoughtful way, such as connected stations in city centers and outskirt towns.
It would also be nice to see these stations interconnected with transit hubs such as subways/trams/buses, and have a pedestrian orientation focus with cycle infrastructure included.
It would be a shame to see these station built outside of walking distance of any surrounding communities in the middle of nowhere with a carpark all around. Something similar to a Walmart Supercenter parking lot.
You can see on the California government website where the current plan is to integrate with each part of the city. Many of the bigger population centres will have stations right at (what sound like to me as) major transit hubs. Unfortunately, the 2030 target is for operation between Bakersfield - Madera, so the parts around SF and LA will still take a bit longer than that.
@Trekman10@sh.itjust.works posted the same news earlier, I thought I checked before posting but I guess I didn’t make out what CAHSR was.
Oops! It happens. This helped me find this community so thanks OP!
I feel like I’ve heard attempts at this from over a decade ago… doubting I’ll see this within my lifetime at this point.
I can understand your skepticism, but you may be slightly misinformed. High speed rail corridors don’t pop up overnight, and they take longer if you want it to be built as economically, safe, and well-thought out as possible. For this project we are about 15 years after voters approved the idea 2008, so that part is true as you say. So planning is done to get the most efficient and effective path which takes years, consulting the public takes years, building it takes more years, then testing and commissioning is the cherry on top. The American idea of “I can do this all by myself without any European/Asian help” is certainly slowing things down and making it expensive as well. Due to inflation the costs also will rise but so will the cost of any alternative be it maintaining highway systems, managing traffic and pollution.
See the progress of the project for yourself at their website. Or a detailed summary on the Wikipedia page.
These must be golf pegs for Godzilla! :)
Let me preface this by saying, I will be more than happy to be proven wrong regarding it’s completion in 2030.
High speed rail corridors don’t pop up overnight, and they take longer if you want it to be built as economically, safe, and well-thought out as possible.
I completely agree. When factoring the high cost, inflation, securing land rights, design approvals, legislation, funding, and the fact that “major components of the project (representing over half its cost) have no bidding or contract management experience. Thus, estimates for these are clearly suspect.” Additionally, “The Authority does not have stable and predictable revenue at either the state or federal level, as discussed earlier in this chapter” in addition to “Costs for large capital projects are also defined as a range, due to variables that include several factors beyond the Authority’s control, such as future inflation levels and industry conditions.” I acknowledge that you admitted to the issue of inflation, as well as them mentioning “Significant progress has been made despite this challenge.” However, based on the reasons mentioned, along with several that are mentioned on their website and the Wikipedia page further reinforce that I am doubtful this will be completed in 2030. This isn’t even considering unforeseen issues that may arise during development, management, and legislation. If anyone can also guarantee there won’t be any disruptive events in the next 7 years, along with managing to acquire these funds, design approvals, acquisition of land rights, then I’ll be happily convinced.
Once again, I will be more than happy to be proven wrong, because I have wanted to see this project completed for a long time now.
Yeah absolutely, and as I mentioned, the stubbornness of “Buy American”, and funding being stretched thin are big sources of why things aren’t happening sooner. This target, as Governor Newsom put it has a “risk factor” of 3 years after 2030 if unforseen things happen.
I think some people might be upset seeing a “train to nowhere” open first (between Bakersfield, Fresno and Mersed before the LA/SF and other major sections are completed, but it is happening and it is for the better.
I will acknowledge that progress is happening, and am glad that it is, but will remain skeptical due to the number of challenges they currently face along with any number of potential unforeseen issues. A “risk factor” of 3 years is also subject to variance beyond our calculations, in my opinion. However, I’m not stating this just to argue. I’m just skeptical because things don’t always go smoothly, despite how much I wish they would. I’ll be looking forward to it’s completion, and I hope that it is sooner than later.
lol, they’re estimating that it will be complete by 2030. There’s already a bunch of track that is laid down. Unless you’re in your death bed now. in which case, yeah sorry, not your lifetime.
Talk is cheap, I’ll believe it when I see it. That’s cute that you believe what you read on the internet, but very naive.
You can literally drive out and see the track yourself.
And until it is completed, that means nothing.
Everything means nothing.
That’s what the Hyperloop was for. California was attempting high speed rail, Musk thought a functional rail infrastructure would lower demand for his shitty cars, so he proposed his own alternative. The state accepted, cancelled the rail project, and he proceeded to cancel the Hyperloop because he never intended to build it, it was just a scheme to trick the state into leaving its rail infrastructure in the 19th century.
He’s like King Midas, except everything he touches turns to trash…
King Mierdas
You’re right! They spent over two billion dollars and didn’t lay any track, about 12-15 years ago. They have some track down now, but I lost track of their budget and timeline a long time ago.
Omg pleeeeease 2030? T-T
