nsxt2000
10-25-2007, 12:39 AM
A Japanese magnetic levitation train set the absolute train speed record in 2003 posting a top speed of 361 MPH! A French high-speed train broke the world record for a train on conventional rails reaching 357 miles per hour earlier this year.
Most high speed trains cruise at 150 to 210 MPH, and that isn't poking along.
One year for vacation we visited Japan and while there experienced a ride on the "Bullet". It was unbelievable to travel at such speeds and your drink barely shake. As part of the same trip for something different on our return from New York to Atlanta we rode AmTrak. The difference was "earth shaking" literally. The AmTrak was like riding a bull - but kind of fun in a strange way. We had to strap the kids down in their beds to keep them from being thrown off! I have to admit that the Bar Car on AmTrak was better than the one on the Bullet. Most riders were probably drinking to forget the inherent dangers of riding AmTrak.
I am told the problem with the ride on AmTrak is that the railbeds are very old and built before sufficient technology was in place for construction. To repair them is cost prohibitive, especially in light of the limited ridership of AmTrak. While AmTrak is governmentally subsudized, there are limits imposed that don't allow for such improvements.
It is a shame that rail service in the U.S. is so deficient. I enjoy riding trains and would consider it an alternative to air travel ... if there were good, safe, reliable service and at a reasonable cost. As it currently stands AmTrak is over priced and under serving to fit my lifestyle.
Incidentally, in school I read a paper about railroads in America at the height of their popularity. As other forms of transportation came into competition with them railroads failed to change with the times. They lacked foresight and thought of themselves in the "railroad" business rather than the "transportation" business. Had they thought differently today we would see the "Union Pacific Airlines" I guess. Come to think of it, knowing how railroads have handled safety issues prehaps it is best that they not be in the airline field!
-Mike S.
Most high speed trains cruise at 150 to 210 MPH, and that isn't poking along.
One year for vacation we visited Japan and while there experienced a ride on the "Bullet". It was unbelievable to travel at such speeds and your drink barely shake. As part of the same trip for something different on our return from New York to Atlanta we rode AmTrak. The difference was "earth shaking" literally. The AmTrak was like riding a bull - but kind of fun in a strange way. We had to strap the kids down in their beds to keep them from being thrown off! I have to admit that the Bar Car on AmTrak was better than the one on the Bullet. Most riders were probably drinking to forget the inherent dangers of riding AmTrak.
I am told the problem with the ride on AmTrak is that the railbeds are very old and built before sufficient technology was in place for construction. To repair them is cost prohibitive, especially in light of the limited ridership of AmTrak. While AmTrak is governmentally subsudized, there are limits imposed that don't allow for such improvements.
It is a shame that rail service in the U.S. is so deficient. I enjoy riding trains and would consider it an alternative to air travel ... if there were good, safe, reliable service and at a reasonable cost. As it currently stands AmTrak is over priced and under serving to fit my lifestyle.
Incidentally, in school I read a paper about railroads in America at the height of their popularity. As other forms of transportation came into competition with them railroads failed to change with the times. They lacked foresight and thought of themselves in the "railroad" business rather than the "transportation" business. Had they thought differently today we would see the "Union Pacific Airlines" I guess. Come to think of it, knowing how railroads have handled safety issues prehaps it is best that they not be in the airline field!
-Mike S.