Could the US even run high-speed rail like France and Japan if it decided to?

[Dennis S]

I just can't picture us running trains at that speed, that safely and on time.

[JoeH]

Of course we could if it was decided to be done, and done right. But that might take some political will and taking back by eminent domain some or parts of some of the rail corridors granted to the railroads in the 1800's to do so. Their interest these days is in running freight, and they maintain their rail beds to the minimum standards needed for that.

[OWC Jamie]

The Acela just needs straighter (and better) track to do 200 mph.

They (Japan and Europe) do consultant work. Just takes money.
The Acela technically has a European heritage.

Population density lends itself to paybacks. Working in the NorthEast Corridor now that road and air fuel costs have risen.
Should work on the left coast in sections of S.Ca..

If we stop building in the corn fields and building highways and infrastructure to support urban sprawl, there's money for rail.

[Speedy]

Except we'll build it like our highways; half as good as the European way just to save money. The History channel shows an Autobahn show from time-to-time and it is built with twice the thickness as our roads.

[hal]

I think it would be impossibly expensive these days - shoulda done it 20 years ago...

[Grumpyguy]

I pay not to ride with you guys :driving:

[Grumpyguy]

Seriously, about 15-20 years ago, they tore out a bunch a railroad tracks that the railroads themselves offered to the state.

Cincinnati and Hamilton County could have installed a light rail system.

Instead they tore up the tracks, tore down the trestles and put in a few bike paths and sold the rest of the land.

Was a missed opportunity.

[AAA]

I would like to see the rails be farther apart, for wider cars.

[Stephanie]

Hey, it should be easy! All we need are a few more megalomaniacal governors and the fed funds to back them! I mean, if po-dunk NM can do it, anyone can! I tell ya, there's some really nice, brand new high speed track running through the I-25 corridor now!

[JoeH]

Grumpyguy wrote:
Seriously, about 15-20 years ago, they tore out a bunch a railroad tracks that the railroads themselves offered to the state.

Cincinnati and Hamilton County could have installed a light rail system.

Instead they tore up the tracks, tore down the trestles and put in a few bike paths and sold the rest of the land.

Was a missed opportunity.

Yeah, the railroads abandoned the lines years before that though and that was a way to get the property off their books and no longer pay property tax where that applied. Most of the track roadbeds they gave up would not have been suitable for putting in high speed rail though. They went to small towns, or did not go to or through areas where they would get much passenger traffic. Conversely, in the heavily populated corridors where they would get plenty of passengers, the railroads own the rails and make it difficult to get passenger trains through at normal speeds, let alone high speed.

Some ares did take the abandoned roadbeds and use them for commuter light rail, but not enough. Most did the same as you described.