High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (USA)

[scalziand]

Tier 1 DEIS for the new NEC is out.
http://www.necfuture.com/tier1_eis/deis/default.aspx

[Busy Bee]

^ I can't believe they're not going to downtown Houston. What a stupid decision.

[scalziand]

^Wrong thread? Unless you think Penn Station should be bypassed via Houston Street in Manhattan?

[Busy Bee]

Whoops. I have no idea how that happened — I think I'm getting Alzheimer's.

[202_Cyclist]

Corporation to Oversee New Hudson Rail Tunnel, With U.S. and Amtrak Financing Half

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS
NOV. 11, 2015
NY Times

"Federal and state officials announced an agreement on Wednesday to create a corporation within the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to oversee long-awaited plans to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

The entity, called the Gateway Development Corporation, will coordinate the project and assemble the billions of dollars needed to pay for it. It will be controlled by a four-member board with representatives from New York, New Jersey, Amtrak and the federal Transportation Department.

As part of the agreement, the federal government and Amtrak said they would be responsible for financing half of the project, which could cost as much as $20 billion. Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican, and Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat, had pushed for the cost-splitting and said the two states would line up the money for the other half..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/12/ny...cing-half.html

[202_Cyclist]

I don't know where the CA high-speed rail thread disappeared to but this is good news.

Bids for bullet train construction show apparent winner for next phase

By Ralph Vartabedian
LA Times
Jan. 5, 2016

"The California High-Speed Rail Authority unsealed bids Tuesday for the construction of 22 additional miles of structures and rail bed in the Central Valley, identifying a team led by the Spanish-based construction firm Ferrovial as the low bidder and “apparent” best value.

The team bid $348 million for the job, much less than three other teams that offered to do the work for $377 million to $582 million.

A bid by a fifth team, led by another Spanish firm, was discarded by the authority as non-responsive to its requirements..."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...010-story.html

[scalziand]

It got bumped to page 2 of the index.

California High Speed Rail Thread - project updates & related discussion ONLY

[scalziand]

Oops, somebody 'forgot' to tell Long Island about the potential Long Island NEC alignment. The locals aren't pleased.


CBS2 Exclusive: Northeast Corridor Upgrade Could Have Amtrak Trains Barreling Through Long Island
January 5, 2016 6:23 PM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed massive improvements to Amtrak’s very congested Northeast Corridor.

One little known proposal calls for an all new route right through the heart of Long Island.
...
Long Island’s one and only public hearing is next week, and federal planners said nothing is etched in stone.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/.../#.Vo7UZc8imAw

[M II A II R II K]

High speed train that floats in air could be the future

Read More: http://www.myfoxboston.com/news/high...uture/14525440

.....

The Department of Transportation has granted $27.8 million to Maryland to assess the feasibility of the first Maglev train in the US. It would run between Baltimore and Washington D.C. in just 15 minutes. Ultimately the plan is to connect the whole northeast corridor, cutting down the commute between New York and Washington to about 60 minutes.

- The service between Baltimore and D.C. alone is expected to cost $10 billion. Japan is pledging to help cover some of the cost and the federal rail administration argues that shelling it out now would provide huge economic and quality of life benefits down the road. From New York to Washington, the train would be 30 minutes faster than a direct flight. If this all goes as planned people can expect the Maglev to start running between D.C. and Baltimore towards the end of the next decade.

.....

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[aquablue]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

High speed train that floats in air could be the future

Read More: http://www.myfoxboston.com/news/high...uture/14525440






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This is the best way to approach HSR in the North East. Invest in the future, not the past. By the time a new traditional HSR is done, maglev will be established as the future of rail and Asia will probably have loads of it. Why waste time and money on old technology when maglev is far faster and will be a true alternative to air travel.

[Nexis4Jersey]

It will cost 4x what HSR will cost , and there's very little room for it in the NE..

[Busy Bee]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[scalziand]

There will be a NVision 2020 transportation meeting tomorrow, January 28 in the Palace Theater, Waterbury. Topics discussed will include upgrades to the Waterbury MN line, and the potential NEC Future alignment through Waterbury.

NVision 2020: Naugatuck Valley Corridor Conference on Infrastructure and Development



The Naugatuck Valley Region already has the tools it needs to encourage growth and a sustainable economy. With access to CT Route 8 and Interstate 84, the second largest airport in the state, and a commuter rail system, the region boasts the underlying transportation infrastructure needed to support a steady flow of employees and goods into the thriving economies of nearby Fairfield County and the New York City metropolitan area. Employees in other regions of the state or in New York already call our region home, in part due to a supply of affordable housing. The region features accessible higher education institutions, abundant open space and recreational trails, and a growing arts community.

The NVision Conference will define how our region can capitalize on its strengths. With the foundation of a transit system already in place, we must expand options available to residents and to the business community. Expanding alternate modes of transportation will play a major role in decreasing burdens on the existing highway corridors and make our area more attractive to residents and business investment. Redeveloping vacant and underutilized sites near transit modes is key. We aim to retool our region for the twenty-first century by investing in technology and transportation infrastructure. These investments will leverage a more diverse, tech friendly economy supportive of existing businesses, new small businesses, local production, advanced manufacturing, and ultimately a better quality of life.

Conference registration begins at 9:00am.

When
Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EST) - Add to Calendar
Where
Palace Theater - 100 East Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702 - View Map

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nvision...ts-19621730123

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by aquablue

This is the best way to approach HSR in the North East. Invest in the future, not the past. By the time a new traditional HSR is done, maglev will be established as the future of rail and Asia will probably have loads of it. Why waste time and money on old technology when maglev is far faster and will be a true alternative to air travel.

Maglev has been 'the future of rail' for decades. The Chinese were going to go big on maglev during the construction of their HSR network, until they realized how bloody expensive it is.

HSR as it exists today is a perfectly fine alternative to air travel. I use HSR quite frequently to travel for business instead of flying because it's simply more convenient.

[Busy Bee]

Always pregnant with the future as is said.

[M II A II R II K]

And I guess Maglevs can't pass each other or switch tracks.

[scalziand]

^There are maglev switches actually.

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[aquablue]

Originally Posted by The Chemist

Maglev has been 'the future of rail' for decades. The Chinese were going to go big on maglev during the construction of their HSR network, until they realized how bloody expensive it is.

HSR as it exists today is a perfectly fine alternative to air travel. I use HSR quite frequently to travel for business instead of flying because it's simply more convenient.

I'm not in the rail industry, so maybe I don't know what the hell i'm taking about, but here is my take. The Japanese will do it right, they always do. By the time the yanks are ready to pony up (10 years?), they will have opened the flood gates and shown the way. Costs at that time may look far better after several countries have invested following Japans lead. Also, the stigma of investing in an outdated technology may be too much to deal with. Also, maglev is a concept that is easier to sell. America likes tomorrow, not the past, it always has. HSR trains are considered a european socialist boondoggle by many in this country.

If Tokyo-Osaka maglev is a hit, people will be very interested in it and less reluctant to risk billions on a tech that is rare. The timing for the Chinese was too early for their HSR network. It was too expensive and too young for them to risk building their country with. They have blown their load so to speak on a massive traditional HSR network. America missed out old 1960's tech HSR, but when maglev tech is proven aprox 1 decade after Tokyo line opens, things will be different and the NEC states will be ready to invest in the future of the mega region. I don't believe there is any funding for any NEC HSR line in place today, so time is ticking slowly away for steel wheel HSR in the megalopolis ever happening. Tick Tock, the good people from the land of the rising sun are knocking on the door with enticing offers.

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

It will cost 4x what HSR will cost , and there's very little room for it in the NE..

Well, there must be very little room for HSR too. Both will require new ROW. There is no way you can get a new proper HSR system on the old tracks.

[Nexis4Jersey]

MARC MultiLevel 125MPH Speed Qualification Test Train @ Princeton JCT

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