Why hasn't the US built a high speed rail system like Spain or Japan?

ban me · June 17, 2016, 02:09:16 PM

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MyNameIsCharlie · June 17, 2016, 02:11:14 PM

While everyone would benefit from it, no one wants to pay for it

ban me · June 17, 2016, 02:15:40 PM

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MyNameIsCharlie · June 17, 2016, 02:33:23 PM

Quote from: Iberian Husky on June 17, 2016, 02:15:40 PM

Quote from: MyNameIsCharlie on June 17, 2016, 02:11:14 PM
While everyone would benefit from it, no one wants to pay for it
Mexico will pay for it.

And it's gonna be so luxurious. Real top notch. I have the best experts working on it. Real top men. You're gonna love it.

DAS B00T x2 · June 17, 2016, 02:54:57 PM

England is roughly the size of my state and their government was debating justifying the cost of a high speed rail from the south up to Scotland hardcore.

Imagine the astronomical costs of a system from NY to LA.

Turkey · June 17, 2016, 03:02:10 PM

Amtrak already has a bunch of high speed rails. Japan's trains are about 50mph faster though.

gats · June 17, 2016, 03:56:33 PM

Too expensive. The one discussed in the UK costs billions and it's like only 20 minutes faster than the current trains we have

Luciana · June 17, 2016, 04:37:08 PM

Because Japan and Spain small when compared to the US. The US is massive, and given today's economy and mindset, no one would want to pay for it.

Pippen · June 17, 2016, 04:42:48 PM

Route 66, high speed rail edition.

Jono · June 17, 2016, 06:12:30 PM

They're trying to make one here in California. The public opinion is about 50/50 on the subject. A lot of people want it and a lot of people don't want it. The local news is always talking about it, but the hilarious thing is that they said it won't be done until 2030.

And I think an entire neighborhood on the other side of town is gonna get torn down to make room for the high-speed rail.

Naru · June 17, 2016, 06:27:42 PM

tfw no elon musk waifu to take over the government and lead us into the space age with trump while creating hyperloops everywhere

Mr. Psychologist · June 17, 2016, 07:21:31 PM

HS2 (the proposed one for bongistan to go up and down the country) is currently priced at £50 gorillion (46 billion iirc) and nobody really wants it because of the cost.

Mattie G Indahouse · June 17, 2016, 07:44:30 PM

Our electric grid wouldn't be able to handle it and not only would we need to replace the tracks, but we would have to redesign the spots they are in. Spots as in the locations where the tracks are laid.

🍁 Aria 🔮 · June 17, 2016, 08:32:32 PM

While 20 minutes is a small difference when talking about going from end-to-end of a state, but that would be hours of time for cross-country travel.

Would be waaaaay too expensive though. Most people would also probably prefer to pay out the ass for a plane to get there in a more timely manner.

Azumarill · June 17, 2016, 09:08:53 PM

i could have sworn i heard about plans for a high speed railway from vegas to LA

Verbatim · June 17, 2016, 09:10:58 PM

like everyone said, it would be quite the investment

it would be SO AWESOME though

SecondClass · June 17, 2016, 09:22:21 PM

Completely irresponsible waste of money. Literally a vanity project, something that's far from needed or even wanted.

ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΗΣ · June 17, 2016, 09:53:34 PM

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ban me · June 17, 2016, 10:07:56 PM

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Tyger · June 17, 2016, 11:30:08 PM

Look up Elon musks hyper loop

I can't believe more of you guys haven't heard of it

Verbatim · June 17, 2016, 11:34:01 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 09:22:21 PM

Completely irresponsible waste of money. Literally a vanity project, something that's far from needed or even wanted.

#SecondClassOpinions

there is literally SO MUCH utility in a high speed rail system, it's insane

SecondClass · June 17, 2016, 11:36:18 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 17, 2016, 11:34:01 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 09:22:21 PM
Completely irresponsible waste of money. Literally a vanity project, something that's far from needed or even wanted.
#SecondClassOpinions

there is literally SO MUCH utility in a high speed rail system, it's insane

if you have the economic stability to maintain them and manufacture them in the first place

we don't

Verbatim · June 17, 2016, 11:37:55 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 11:36:18 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 17, 2016, 11:34:01 PM
Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 09:22:21 PM
Completely irresponsible waste of money. Literally a vanity project, something that's far from needed or even wanted.
#SecondClassOpinions

there is literally SO MUCH utility in a high speed rail system, it's insane
if you have the economic stability to maintain them and manufacture them in the first place

we don't

then say that, don't just dismiss it as a "vanity project"

SecondClass · June 17, 2016, 11:40:32 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 17, 2016, 11:37:55 PM

Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 11:36:18 PM
Quote from: Verbatim on June 17, 2016, 11:34:01 PM
Quote from: SecondClass on June 17, 2016, 09:22:21 PM
Completely irresponsible waste of money. Literally a vanity project, something that's far from needed or even wanted.
#SecondClassOpinions

there is literally SO MUCH utility in a high speed rail system, it's insane
if you have the economic stability to maintain them and manufacture them in the first place

we don't
then say that, don't just dismiss it as a "vanity project"

building them right now would be a vanity project, because they would only exist so we can say "we have them". They would offer a negative effect on our country as a whole.

Obviously, if we invest resources into more efficient renewable energies in the future, then things might change.

Alpha · June 17, 2016, 11:43:40 PM

We are building one from Las Vegas to somewhere in Commiefornia.

snee0rp · June 18, 2016, 03:23:11 AM

Good luck getting the governments of all the states it runs through to actually agree on anything.

Ginger · June 18, 2016, 07:32:57 AM

There are a few reason:
1. It is expensive
2. It isn't entirely necessary (in that the presumed benefits do not outweigh the presumed cost)
3. Automotive industry would literally defecate bricks (they are pretty big lobbyist)
4. Airlines would men/manstruate all over the place