High Speed Rail

[rb336]

There was a poignant point made on NPR during the news cycle, I think, or perhaps an interviewee of Terri Gross' who made the observation that China created and built an entire nation-full of high speed rail in THREE YEARS, while it has taken us longer to decide whether or not it would be worth the effort and expense.

THAT is the indictment of our country...and obvious proof of the decline of our empire...if not the eulogy.

He who has the best infrastructure wins. What is so hard to grasp about that concept?

[Gannon]

No doubt.

[Mikeg]

There was a poignant point made on NPR during the news cycle, I think, or perhaps an interviewee of Terri Gross' who made the observation that China created and built an entire nation-full of high speed rail in THREE YEARS, while it has taken us longer to decide whether or not it would be worth the effort and expense.

THAT is the indictment of our country...and obvious proof of the decline of our empire...if not the eulogy.

Your "poignant point" is neither an indictment nor an obvious proof of anything.

While Chinese authorities are questioning whether they built too much high-speed rail too quickly, high-speed rail promoters in this country continue to hold the Chinese up as a shining example and denigrate their own country for not blindly following suit.

From the November 7, 2010 Financial Times:

Beijing reviews high-speed rail plans

By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing

Published: November 7 2010 19:56 | Last updated: November 7 2010 19:56

China’s Ministry of Railways is conducting a review of the country’s ambitious high-speed rail proposals after an influential state-backed think-tank raised questions about the affordability and practicality of the planned network.

In a report submitted by the China Academy of Science to the State Council, experts urged a rethink of the emphasis on massive infrastructure investment, particularly the bullet train expansion programme.

One of the concerns expressed in the report is the unsustainable level of debt that has propelled rail building projects across the country, particularly since the government launched its stimulus package in late 2008 to combat the effects of the global economic crisis.

[[snip)

But with dozens of new lines scheduled to open in the next two years, the high-speed connections already in operation are being carefully scrutinised.

Critics point out that bullet train services, such as the 1,000km Wuhan to Guangzhou connection that opened this year, are operating at less than half their full capacity and will never make enough money to repay the large bank loans used to build them.

[ghettopalmetto]

While Chinese authorities are questioning whether they built too much high-speed rail too quickly, high-speed rail promoters in this country continue to hold the Chinese up as a shining example and denigrate their own country for not blindly following suit.

Therefore, we should just sit on our asses and pray for American Exceptionalism to see us through.

No one is proposing to build high-speed trains willy-nilly. But just because the Chinese are "reviewing" what they've done doesn't mean that we don't have a Third World transportation infrastructure. God forbid we invest money in our own economic well-being.

The former Soviet bloc nations would be embarrassed of our rail system.

[Hermod]

Therefore, we should just sit on our asses and pray for American Exceptionalism to see us through.

No one is proposing to build high-speed trains willy-nilly. But just because the Chinese are "reviewing" what they've done doesn't mean that we don't have a Third World transportation infrastructure. God forbid we invest money in our own economic well-being.

The former Soviet bloc nations would be embarrassed of our rail system.

Uhh, GP, we have the most efficient, extensive, and profitable freight railroad network in the world and the railroads are currently upgrading the trunk lines using mostly their own money.

[Augustiner]

Uhh, GP, we have the most efficient, extensive, and profitable freight railroad network in the world and the railroads are currently upgrading the trunk lines using mostly their own money.

So?extra characters

[Hermod]

So?extra characters

Because that is what keeps the economy moving.

Business travel is declining due to the internet and teleconferencing.

Getting Aunt Minnie from Scranton to Grand Rapids for a visit does not a real impact on the economy.

[dtowncitylover]

Uhh, GP, we have the most efficient, extensive, and profitable freight railroad network in the world and the railroads are currently upgrading the trunk lines using mostly their own money.

WOW! Freight rail! Yeah, let me "ride the rails!" It's nice that a freight train can get to New York from Detroit without having to go to Chicago first...how about us?

It's nice that we didn't think twice to fund the post-War infrastructure projects in Western Europe, but it's taken 60 years and counting for us to upgrade ours.

[ghettopalmetto]

Uhh, GP, we have the most efficient, extensive, and profitable freight railroad network in the world and the railroads are currently upgrading the trunk lines using mostly their own money.

I'm sure folks parked on the Interstate or crammed into a flying aluminum can will appreciate that little trivia item.

In the meantime, we'll just shell out trillions more dollars for ever-wider interstates and ever-larger airports while the Europeans and Asians conduct business.

[Gannon]

Your "poignant point" is neither an indictment nor an obvious proof of anything.

While Chinese authorities are questioning whether they built too much high-speed rail too quickly, high-speed rail promoters in this country continue to hold the Chinese up as a shining example and denigrate their own country for not blindly following suit.

Hey KID! Get off my grass-is-always-greener!


LOL, thanks for the greater perspective.

I was repeating THEIR observation, and continue to consider it a strong indictment of what will hold this country back from ever achieving true greatness and/or leadership around the world again.


Cheers