Quote:
Originally Posted by electricron
Per http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/fa...nd-payment.htm
The cost to build the 800-mile system is estimated to be about $40 billion.
800 M/$40 Billion x $700 Billion= 14,000 miles. 
Amtrak operates passenger service on 21,000 miles (34,000 km) of track primarily owned by freight railroads connecting 500 destinations in 46 states.
Therefore, 66% of all Amtrak routes could be converted to 220 mph HSR corridors with the $700 Billion bailout. 
Of course, California probably has underpriced the costs significantly. So let's just say 50% of all Amtrak routes could be upgraded to 220 mph HSR corridors with the $700 Billion bailout. 
Now my question, which half would you upgrade, and which half you would not upgrade? |
Just throwing this out there...
It'll be REALLY hard, realistically, to get any sort of HSR system in place via government funding... partly because the airline industry will see it as a $700 subsidy for direct competition. I expect that the lobbying would be tremendous.