these are by far the worst arguments against high speed rail on youtube.
every time people fill up at the tank, those 'cheap' fuel costs are heavily subsidized by the government, around $2 billion/yr. end the subsidies and enact a windfall profits tax on the oil companies to help cover some of the cost. what you need to think about here is the long term benefits. not 5-10 or even 20 years, but 50 to 100 years down the road. you're a luddite moron if you can't understand the cost/benefits here.
It makes more sense to build more roads and modernize airports? common! even if we did that, tax payers are still going to have to pay into it for maintenance. Why should I have to pay my well earned tax dollars for airlines who already steal out of the American people's pockets? Railroads have shaped this country since the signing of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. High speed rail service is the only way we're ever going to be in competition with other countries over in Europe and in Japan.
@Trooper40below Don't forget the state of Michigan, we now have high speed rail from Chicago to my hometown of Kalamazoo. Soon, it will be to Port Huron and Pontiac.
They're not necessarily against high speed rail, their against people who don't want it paying for it. If people were truly informed on the how expensive fossil fuels will inevitably become, they would advocate it. But not the FEDERAL government paying for it...because they have no risk of failure, and the public is on the hook for any losses. This happens in the private sector as well, rail is a natural monopoly. Somone will eventually be able to make money providing good public transportation.
@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
I know how nobody reads youtube comments but I wanted to point out that this would definitely reduce traffic in major Interstate hubs, by massively reducing cars driving through the atlanta i75/85 junction. That'd be great, at least for me.
The video states that California's line could cost up to 100 billion by 2020. Just read today that they announced it will be 98.5 billion and be done by 2033. Anyone want to guess the real amount of money they will spend and when it will be done?
Why don't we end the subsidies for it all and let consumers make the best decisions? Funding all of these free access roads only encourages poor consumption habits.
Building more roads and airports makes sense, because they're free. LOL
Expanding even a short section of highway cost billions of dollars and millions more a year for policing and maintenance where does that money come from?
This video is straight nonsense. HSR is successful. Overseas and on the east coast of the united states so I know it will be successful across the country, especially with airline prices and headaches and gas prices flucuating. 90% of Amtraks routes have gone up in ridership and overall Amtrak ridership is up and keep going up. I think Obama should push HSR hard! in his infrastructure package.
you know back in the 30's to 50's the ten fastest trains in the world were american streamliners (qouted from Stremaliners)...when we had the time and took the pride in or rail network things were great but once other factors started to imped on the rail's tht changed it all..however i think its still possible for a highspeed railsystem because were all others fail trains pull up the slack...even intodays economy trains are still holding there own and are making new ways for us to do more things
@sideslide23 yeah thts true also...i think the metroliner hit 160-170 on the NEC and the NYC Jet power RDC topped both..but ur right...i like tht train.. do u know if any of tose survived?
YOU JUST WAIT........When gasoline soon goes to 5 to 10 dollars per gallon you will BEG for trains, fast or slow........You simple minded people......It is no wonder our nation is sinking into a third world status.......
@sierracuban not only gas price would hit $10 per gallon but Cars right now the cheapest car in America is $12,000 but it could hit $120,000 in 30 years and airline tickets would hit $1000 each way and then you would wish that Trains are back in America Fast or slow, electric, diesel, maglev or steam.
@sideslide23 YES INDEED SIDESLIDE 23.........These people who HATE trains are from a sort of RELIGION........They hate, hate, hate.........High speed trains are coming no matter what, but the future cost will now be truly PAINFUL......When people see gasoline prices at 10 dollars per gallons but with no trains, they will rush to request trains, but it will be TOO LATE......It will be like the people rushing to the side of Moses in the movie The Ten Commandments........TOO LATE...
@sierracuban YOU JUST WAIT........When gasoline soon goes to 1 to 2 dollars per gallon you will BEG for no trains, fast or slow........You simple minded people......It is no wonder our nation is sinking into a third world status.......
this is a load of BS and incredibly misleading bias. whats the point of showing those 60s crappy animations too? i'm sorry but hearing this backward mindset of planes and cars being better than highspeedrail makes me pity where america is heading.. this guy, and a lot of you others too, need to see the rest of the world. please do, for the sake of your country.
@ashdotA3 With 120 million population in Japan and any other densely population countries, they really need a fast-trains, and loaded of passengers every single day. If train can carries 300 people per trip. Then, by comparing that to California with a population of 40 million. I don't think its a good investment. People still using their cars. With a high-mile of destinations in California, this would be seems a far-fetched. CA will be subsidizing jobs creation, instead of market creating jobs!
Instead of using high speed rail, why doesn't the government make smaller inter city routes, quicker, more comfortable, and usable making them more worth while to use? Then add more conventional trains running reasonable times into places not severed by Amtrak like Asheville NC, Nashville, Chattanooga TN, Mobile, Montgomery AL, and Tallahassee FL. Even Diesel-Electric locomotives are cleaner then cars and air-travel. Its not rocket science it's RAILROADING,Common Sense and Critical Thinking.
Yes, we should upgrade conventional rail routes throughout the country. Then we could build a couple true HSR lines in the Northeast, CA and FL eventually.
@grover9559 Fully agreed conventional trains like Amtrak's and NCDOT's Piedmont and HSR routes on top in the Northeast, California, and Florida would be good for the country. Currently the NCDOT is trying to acquire CSX's line from Petersburg VA to Raleigh NC, only local trains go north from Raleigh to Norlina NC. Amtrak could send the Silver Star, Palmetto, The Carolinian and other high speed trains on this route only worrying about two to four CSX trains a day.
Biggravens... we're going in circles here. What part of airport congestion (cars in traffic driving to the airport) don't you understand? That was my point. Yes, most traffic is within cities...so what? There are significant passenger miles expended between cities. I'm in the wrong harbor? HSR serves commuters AND intercity travel. Look at the plans in California. We're going in circles here. Like the video, you're just demonstrably wrong. Accept it and move on from your one-note ideology.
Biggravens...sigh. Seriously? The majority of California's electrical generation is natural gas, not coal. And California is working towards increasing its renewables portfolio--it's currently up to 14%, which is impressive. And the BTU/power consumption of a HSR overall is far less per passenger mile than cars or airplanes. That's just a fact. Look it up. It's laughable ignorant to suggest that HSR will pollute more than cars or planes.
@sideslide23 Illinois is so broke that they about to run out of money for all public works projects. California is broke as well. California is so vast that HSR wouldn't be effective as they it is a boondoggle. Its already 50 billion and growing and not one single peice of track has been laid. Most people could fly to LA from San Francisco in less than an hour on a plane, San Diego in an hour and 15 minutes, plus it cheaper.
Total bs. During the Depression, California completed many public works projects like Hoover Dam, Hetch Hetchy aquaduct, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Highways, and many other projects. We built our way out of the Depression. We didn't sit around hoping things would get better.
"California is so vast ..."
The geography of CA is similar to Japan and it not only works well there but makes a very good profit.
HSR is cheaper than flying. It's also faster door-to-door.
China just completed their high speed 300-350mph super train in 2 years, Obama is a complete failure, 8 billion is nothing. 150mph.. pffft.. lol , Obama is too busy spreading his ass cheeks for GM and military industrial complex that he loves so much. The Goldman Sachs puppet is too busy giving trillions to banks and corporations, thanks for the "CHANGE"
@l1nuxun1l (...) Take spanish RAVE case for an example, which has similar caracteristics to those of California. Now, concerning the 8 billion bill to complete the project: yes, it will most probably derail on it's own. But I challenge you to present one single large public project in the american history that hasn't.
@l1nuxun1l (...) because an high-speed train takes you directly from one city-center to another. Everywhere it has been implemented it has contributed significantly to the revitalization of the railways, because all this advantages comes at a low-cost carrier-like ticket price, that along with implemented systems of discounts for early ticket buyers (which have at least happened in Spain to the extent of my knowledge), cause the ridership to be high. (...)
@l1nuxun1l (...) High speed rail is extremely competitive on the medium range transportation (exactly what happens at both intra and contiguous state levels), because its travel time is comparable to airline carriers and its effective travel time (when compared to air transportation, which must include check-in and transfer times to and from city centers) is much lower, and we have to consider the significant less hazardous experience it represents to the traveller, (...)
@l1nuxun1l yes, because this so-called facts are, in fact, lies. High speed rail has largely been a success everywhere it has been implemented. High speed rail lines are, in fact, lucrative -- this has happened everywhere: Japan, France, Germany, the 'Eurostar' international train, and more recently in Spain -- and it stands the only form of rail transportation where this occurs. (...)
@SuperThe86 see what you fail to understand is that we in the us are a country are a country of morons too dependant on our personal vehichals to realise this. we dont care that we spend 4 dollars per gallon and sit for 3 hours on the highway everyday. as long as we have our new car. yes when it comes to hsr america surely is trying to miss the boat, well train.
@SuperThe86 see what you fail to understand is that we in the us are a country are a country of morons too dependant on our personal vehichals to realise this. we dont care that we spend 4 dollars per gallon and sit for 3 hours on the highway in traffic jams everyday. as long as we have our new car. yes when it comes to hsr america surely is trying to miss the boat, well train.
@SuperThe86 the Space shuttle program was the most costly project ever done int he U.S. Nasa was the most costly investment. we built 5 real space shuttle we crashed two of them, and now were retiring all 4 of the space shuttle and now were going to rent the Russian rocket ship to get to the space station.
@SuperThe86 dont worry. our government will soon start investing in super cool smart things like highways that you can travel at 200 mph on. who needs something reasonable like trains. we have cars to take us where we want to go. and cars are cooler. seriously are we even trying anymore?
Germany has highways with no speed limit. But to travel at very high speed you need a very powerful car which is very expensive.Also you will have to spend a lot of money on gas. And you cant drive for hours at very high speed.
Many Americans believe someone's taking their cars. It's not true. The growing traffic should be redirected to high speed trains because highways and airports are already congested. HSR is just a good alternative.
@SuperThe86 not the only thing, right now the price tag on a newer car right now is $12,000 in 30 years from the price tag on a newer car like a honda fit would be $125,000 and you may not be able to afford a new car ever again.
We need these trains to help with congestion when people travel Imagine going from NY to Florida in say 7 hours or less.
The flight is normally 2:30 when I fly from Buffalo to Orlando, I have to arrive 2 hours before my flight, and have another 30 minutes to get my bags after, so I'm already at 5 hours for my trip, and that's if everything goes perfectly and were not backed up waiting for take off. Plus I like the fact that I'm thousand of feet closer to the ground.
This dude's a scumbag. A SCUMBAG! If it is up to shitfucks like this guy, America will be on the fast track to an even more looked-down-upon country, technologically, socially, and infrastructurally. This guys a fuckin loser... and NO ONE would even need to go through the Lincoln Tunnel coming from Boston!! Unless youre on your way to Newark... This guy's a DIPSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This dude's a scumbag. A SCUMBAG! If it is up to shitfucks like this guy, America will be on the fast track to an even more looked-down-upon country, technologically, socially, and infrastructurally. This guys a fuckin loser... and NO ONE would even need to go through the Lincoln Tunnel coming from Boston!! Unless youre on your way to Newark... This guy's a DIPSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I should also point out that WHATEVER the politicians say and promise always tends to be a lie. And moreover any supposed 'benefits' should be closely re-evaluated. The govt can NOT provide anything positive. If the 'high speed rail' is so desirable, entrepreneurs will invest their own money & take their own risks in the marketplace. But if u have politicians advertisin this or that, u can be almost 99% certain that there are special interest groups behind that
High speed rail works within distances of less than 300miles like no other mean of transportation. For longer distances the airplane wins again regarding travel time. Regarding convenience yet there is nothing like a high speed train.
Have a look at Europe to see it works.
The mindset in this video is scaring and outdated. The reasons are all false except for the cost. You really won't come far with 8 billion. But it's a start!
@qora01m You're right about the 300 miles. But those trips of 300 miles or less make up almost 40% of all the flights from the major U.S. hub airports. And train stations, as opposed to airports, are generally located in city centers; not requiring the secondary transport mode an airport needs, usually cabs or buses, to reach that city center.
This video and the reasons does not make sense. We'd rather spend now, reduce road and airspace congestion. Studies have shown that expanding roads and airports are simply NOT FEASABLE and way too costly. In fact, Airplanes and Busses have Very Limited Capacity, Rail can have Better capacity loads. Think about a railcar equivalent to 2 Doulbe Decker Vanhool MegaBus, 3 railcars have the equivalent to an average sized commercial jet. You'll be knocked out and regret putting this video up, smh.....
Much is made of the $30 billion spent on Amtrak over the last 30 years, but in that same period the federal government spent $1.89 TRILLION on air and highway modes, according to the New York Times and Washington Post.
Lets see how many airports and highways get built if government subsidies disappeared.
@StJoes0509 If you really want to look at numbers fairly, why not consider the costs-per-rider-per trip. I think that you'll find that the government spends many times more money per train rider than per automobile driver/passenger. As it turns out, cars are just more practical than trains and people prefer that practicality. An automobile always goes exactly to the destination that you'd like to go to (given that there's parking). Trains, on the other hand, don't.
If it really could make money then let the private sector build it... Why do we need government to build it? I guess because the private sector knows it would not make money. So I guesss Obummer wants to waiste tax dollars on his idea and let us pay the tab later when it starts losing money like Amtrack.
@donttelluseenme When is the last time you saw an airport built by the private sector or the highways they need to connect them to the cities they serve? Not only that, but 25% of the funding for the air-traffic control system comes from the General Fund not from airline, jet-fuel, ticket or cargo taxes. That 25% dwarfs the amount of money Amtrak receives and makes the airline industry the most federally subsidized of all American industries.
I'd like to see someone discuss a private bus system. Currently private bus operators are locked out of the market by licence fees and public transport rules.
What if public bus routes were opened up to private operators too?
@LibertyDownUnder - there are actually private buses. In NYC Chinese have their own buses that go between the heavily Chinese areas in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. There did also used to be more "conventional" types... but they were unprofitable.. so they got swallowed up by the government. If you look at most infrastructure and/or transportation anytime there is a private operator they almost always go out of business without subsidy. Even ferries.
@LibertyDownUnder - that's a "yellow" cab... livery cabs don't cost that much. The dollar vans you speak of are not the same as the legal Chinese buses I was talking about. All transportation companies have a lot of expenses because of all the safety requirements. You ever travel to a major city in the "third world" that doesn't have a lot of traffic enforcement or regulations? Very dangerous... I know because my family comes from one.
@LibertyDownUnder - no it's way more than 2%... trainings, inspections, etc. etc. but yes all the other things you stated have an effect. The less you pay drivers, etc. though is the less quality you will get. There is no easy fix. As I said it's better than traffic chaos. As I said - go to any capital city in a developing nation where the regulations are lax and the drivers are paid a pittance and you will see. I have a cousin's adopted child who just died a couple of months ago.
@LibertyDownUnder - it's surely debateable what brought out of poverty. I bring up third world countries because it is quite relevant. As a matter of fact... take a look at the states that have the highest vehicle fatalities and likewise pedestrian.. the same ones that are so "free" and have little regulation.
@sassa82 No it does not create work, it creates inefficiencies in the economy because people are doing work and taking money where they don't need to be. What is good for the economy is people identifying markets and filling those markets with a good product.
@happykillmore88 There's ample evidence that it does create work, and also enhances local economies by eliminating inefficiencies in regional commerce vis a vis the ripple effect of enhanced (faster), more flexible (all weather) transportation corridors. BART, bullet train, TGV, for example.
So in fact they can fill a niche with a quality product.
@hyaenidae If the government pays someone to move piles of dirt around they create 'work' but its not efficient. As well there in my state, in fl there is no great need to move people from the st pete/tampa bay area to orlando because there are few jobs in both places.
@happykillmore88 - the I-4 is terribly insufficient now. It's not 1980 when central Florida was still "open". I drove from NY to Kissimee for an event and we were stuck for 2 hours on I-4 after having no problems the whole way down on I95. Btw - ask Rockland - Dutchess - Orange counties in NY how much they have benefitted by having people priced out of NYC who are still able to get to there jobs because of the commuter rail system (Metro North). Also Long Island - New Jersey and Connecticut.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT HIGH SPEED RAILS ARE WHAT WE NEED SO WE CAN LIVE IN SF AND WORK IN LOS ANGELES I LOVE AMTRAK BUT WOULD LOVE TO GET TO LA / ORANGE COUNTY QUICKER
But fuel taxes are disproportionately paid by urban users driving on local roads (often not funded by fuel taxes), and idling in traffic jams. These funds then frequently support the construction of highways in unpopulated areas for the purpose of economic development. While the rail projects in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida were required to show their utility in the first year of operation, highways are frequently built before the economic development and traffic demand even exist.
@hyaenidae - I agree. Actually driving on I-95 in Virginia and North Carolina recently I saw dozens of highway overpasses being built that were near no population centers at all. Then these things are built ridiculously high. I mean I think 3 18 wheelers stacked on top of each other could pass through easily. Why do they need such clearance heights?? Think of the wasted concrete - time - additional engineering fees - etc. Largesse to appease some local congress member if you ask me.
@hyaenidae - you are correct.. and usually it's because some senator wants "jobs" for his region... so in order to get his vote on something they "trade" by giving his low population are these "road jobs".
What is it about countries that speak English - specifically the UK and USA? They are the most short sighted, unambitious countries in the world. Just about every other country in the developed world has invested in High Speed rail and in every case it has been a resounding success, yet the Anglo Saxons bury their heads in the sand and claim they know best.
so whats the answer. i drive a tanker truck for shell in ohio, when the gas prices were 1.80 a gl back in 2000 when i was hired i delivered a million gals a mnth. now gas prices are 4 bucks a gal im still doing a million gals a mnth. we are not conserving gas so wtf..
@mitachapin CAn you afford a Lamborgini, Farrari, Dodge Viper GTS? No? than youll be driving a ford taurus, CAl America afford a high speed rail? No? than well be taking a Greyhound bus.
bullet trains run on electric power not diesel asia and europe or more advanced than us the only area in usa that needs high speed is in the northeast acela aint enough
My goodness. This video is just so full of mistakes and BS I don't even know where to start. Bullet trains aren't cleaner than cars and airplanes? It won't reduce congestion? Urban traffic doesn't include drives from the airport or cars coming from other cities?
@rrudick999 Well most traffic into a given metro area probably comes from within 50 miles of said area. Take into account that the proposed train system only connects major cities (and not all of them) and you are left with a good percentage of the population still needing to drive to even get to the train stations (something left out when discussing how trains will eliminate traffic problems).He also didn't say bullet trains are less efficient, he said the ones PLANNED are less efficient
It's just a question of how the US lines are PLANNED? Cool. The Reason Foundation supports HSR--they just want to tweak the planning. Awesome. I'm sure their people are getting right on those improved HSR plans. Of course many people will still need to drive on government-built roads. But it will give millions more an alternative. Look, the use of the "Supertrain" video says it all. Reason isn't in this for a serious policy discussion.
urban traffic is mostly local urban traffic- the traffic in the beltway is traffic in the beltway. its not some mysterious aggregate that can be moved around like this or that. Cars are plainly far more convenient than cumbersome raillines & such. "non-local" traffic hardly contributes even a fraction to the urban traffic. Like i said Urban traffic is URBAN - its what gets like 90% of us to & from work- either that or walking
@rrudick999 other than the fact that that bullet trains are electric.... but electric trains create emisions right.... and running trains from the airports to the citys wont acctually take people from.... the airports to the citys....
@rrudick999 Bullet trains run on ELECTRICITY, smart one. And electricity comes mainly from coal, which is more polluting than oil. And your second point not only misses the boat, it doesn't even go to the right harbor. His point was that high speed rail is mainly for traveling between cities, when driving can tend to be impractical, whereas most traffic is within one city area- think Los Angeles or New York.
Combine HSR w/ restriction/banning of privately owned vehicles in city limits, MASSIVELY improved public transportation & pedestrian & non-motorized vehicle traffic flow.
I imagine that would improve living conditions within cities & reduce overall pollution.
Yes, I know it would cost countless numbers of units of imaginary currency.
I also advocate switching to a more resource-based economy where preservation of resources is valued. I hope this would encourage innovation through conservation.
But of course you can afford all the pointless wars you have going on. German HSR runs at a profit has recuped all the money back and has shut down its internal flights because HSR is both quicker and cheeper than flying. And Germany was the only Euro country to top 3.5% growth last year. In fact all the countries showing the highest growth recently all have HSR.
What California needs is a high speed rail to VEGAS. Both States would benefit greatly. Who wouldn't pay $100 to catch an hour and a half ride on Friday after work to head to Vegas without the hassle of airport lines and security or sitting in congested traffic?
My experience in traveling abroad is that trains are a very efficient and affordable way to travel. Granted they cost money in the long run, they also produce jobs. The gentleman in the video proposed to build more roads. Obviously this guy has never stepped foot in California. If he had, he would realize there is little room for creation and that land would have to be bought which could lead to all sorts of problems simply int trying to obtain it.
Why don't we end the drug war and use that money (something like ~47 BILLION annually) to fund the projects? That is what Obama should have done instead of his idiotic stimulus bill.
Also, there simply isn't enough room for all of the cars on the roads, even if you widen them. At current rates, the US is projected to add ~100 million new cars by 2050. That is impossible to do.
Then, to really blow your mind, you should know that widening roads actually makes the traffic problem worse. It only alleviates the congestion on neighboring roads. This is because the incentive to use that road is now exponentially greater, and thus any benefit is undone by more use.
First off, building more roads is not the answer. You know the federal government subsidized 90% of interstate construction, right? I don't see you bitching about that. Plus it costs ~$250,000,000 to build one interstate exchange. It's completely unsustainable. You just don't see the costs because they are harder to look for. What will you do when gas tax revenues decrease to do better MPG on your vehicle? When you juxtapose the amount spend on roads and rail, it's ridiculous.
Another insanely expensive government plan that will not pay off in some distant future. We are facing insane deficits. Now is not the time to start new projects. If anything this shows that Obama is really not serious about the debt crisis, and is clueless on the problem.
@jeffmonc2 You r right dude! Hell why need any "High trains" High speed buses r perfect. It's green, efficient n cheap!!!!! Obama knows shit about debt crisis! 100% support for "Onion network " views.
CUTE......BUT ALL PURE ANTI-RAIL PROPAGANDA.....Some nut cases out there just HATE trains for some reason.....They are traumatized.......When gas hits 5 dollars per gallon, and then 7 or 8 dollars, you will be glad you have mass transit....
Then the TRAUMAS will be different.....AND.....HIGH SPEED RAIL = JOBS.....
The problem is, that these people have the ideology, that the market itself makes the best decisions. They rewrite history and do not understand, that capitalism has always needed an intelligent state as longterm strategic thinking partner.
When the oil price rises then private investors will consider building a railway...This is their logic, they do not understand, that this will take many years, and that in the meantime their economy fucks up
@ChineseAtheist the state can't even be intelligent in the short term, and there's very few examples in history where it has been sucessful in the longterm on some project. Because of the calculation problem, central planning in any form can never work, regardless of how much capitalism you allow.
If you can accurately predict that railways will be sucessful in the future, invest in them with your own money, take the risk and reap the reward, and don't force it on everyone else!
This is pure rhetorics. It is well known, that the entrance costs in some markets are to high for private investors. Why do you think does the Boeing - Airbus duopoly exist? The railway also has strong scale effects: When only a few people use it, it sucks.
If you really studied, how much innovation in human history, were caused by state intervention (military, space...), if you really studied the 19th rise of Japan, you would understand the importance of the state. Laissez-fire does not work
@ChineseAtheist but it clearly does! How much innovation has been produced by the state is pretty subjective. How do you determine the value of an "innovation"? Obviously it would be how much it is worth on the market, what other people are willing to pay for it. If that is higher then what it costs, then people can invest their own money in these projects. Having a state do it is unnecessary. If it's lower, then it shouldn't be done at all. The same goes for railways.
@ChineseAtheist Don't forget one of the greatest examples of the mighty State - the White Sea Canal, which costed the lives of 100000 people at Stalin's whim.
THIS GUY IS THE MISTAKE.....HE FAILS to mention that the price of a barrel of oil has now hit 100 dollars, and will one day hit 200......Once that happens AIRLINE
TRAVEL WILL BE DEAD.....He almost sounds like he works for General Motors or Chevron Oil.....HE ALSO FAILS to mention that back in 1922 a man by the name of ALFRED P. SLOAN JR. of GM devised a company which was successful in dismantling all of our inner city trolley lines.....WHY DID YOU NOT MENTION THIS MR. REASON IN THE TOILET TV ?
@MrTabby5000 COMMUNIST RAIL ??? MARK MY WORDS TABBY : Gasoline will hit 5 dollars per gallon in 2011, and sometime in the next five years we will be at 6 to 8 dollars per gallon......Back in 2008 when our son graduated from the United States Marine Corps we took the Amtrak train from Miami to Savanna, Georgia, and the train was packed to the brim, you see Tabby, gas was 4.50 per gallon.....All of this talk about people not riding the train is PURE HOGWASH......THIS VIDEO IS HOGWASH.
Hey you ignorant "reasonTV" what about increased petrol prices? That will definately affect cars, buses and AIRPLANES. A high speed train use electricity!
@Nichen true because 30 years from now, If we don't get HSR at all then gas price will hit $10 per gallon, Air fairs from L.A. to New York City will hit $1000 each way per passenger in econ class, and Greyhound Bus ticket would hit $500 each way per passenger now think about it.
@Nichen RIGHT ON NICHEN ! THIS GUY MUST BE A GENERAL MOTORS SPY....Read my other e-mail post on how GENERAL MOTORS was successful in KILLING RAIL LINES in The United States...WE the People of The United States of America have been BRAINWASHED by GM and BIG OIL, into love affairs with our cars...Back in the 1950' s TV commercials depicted people as PATRIOTS for buying Chevrolets..
HIGH SPEED RAIL SHALL SUCCEED MR. REASON IN THE TOILET TV.....IT WILL PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE USA.
High speed rails would create millions of new jobs ,get people out of there cars , and reduce pollution and traffic and make America a more desirable place to vacation for tourists , and the money spent would be nothing compered to what we give to the privately owned federal reserve system and all the sleazy thieving wall street boys and insurance companies and other large corporations that receive many more billions in subsidies , not to mention foreign aid or bribery , invest in the U.S.A. !
@mikehanoo33 Behind the scenes, waiting in the wings, is China. This high speed rail scam is tailor made for China They want some guarantees for the money they have loaning us, you know, the interest on the money that has been building all those beautiful cities in China, well anyway, China wants to have some real estate, some right of way in America. And China would like to own the high speed rail systems for profits for 100 years. Obama is game.
In 50-150 years the prices for fuel will go up and then the countries with a strong railway system will have a huge advantage towards the US which is dependent on planes
China, China, China...you are so obsessed with China. Germany/Siemens makes the best high-speed rail, an US-Siemens cooperation is much more likely than a Chinese project.
@ChineseAtheist Do you read with comprehension? Did I fail to tell my story clearly? I mentioned nothing about who has the best system. I mentioned nothing about anything except that which I have knowledge. The US government, Obama, is in secret negotiations to allow China to acquire land in the US and finance and build and operate a high speed rail system for China's personal profit.
This is kow towing to China for lending the US so much money. It is crime.
@TAMARLANE - I didn't vote for Obama...and I won't be in the next election either... but blaming him is a complete joke. The Chinese were doing quite well for themselves in buying American debt during the Bush years. Likewise the debt spiraled out of control - again - under Bush's watch. Don't try to re-write history. You are doing the same thing as this video... and that is why there is little progress.
@Amidat Where are the lawsuits against this President? There should be many lawsuits against this man for surrounding himself with radical extremist insurrectionist advisers. Why aren't there claims against this man for dereliction of duty, for treason, for misfeasance, malfeasance, non-feasance, for bribery, for lying under oath, for theft, for any number of criminal acts that are costing us our freedom?
these are by far the worst arguments against high speed rail on youtube.
every time people fill up at the tank, those 'cheap' fuel costs are heavily subsidized by the government, around $2 billion/yr. end the subsidies and enact a windfall profits tax on the oil companies to help cover some of the cost. what you need to think about here is the long term benefits. not 5-10 or even 20 years, but 50 to 100 years down the road. you're a luddite moron if you can't understand the cost/benefits here.
iphner43 1 week ago 2
It makes more sense to build more roads and modernize airports? common! even if we did that, tax payers are still going to have to pay into it for maintenance. Why should I have to pay my well earned tax dollars for airlines who already steal out of the American people's pockets? Railroads have shaped this country since the signing of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. High speed rail service is the only way we're ever going to be in competition with other countries over in Europe and in Japan.
historyboy08 2 weeks ago
@Trooper40below Don't forget the state of Michigan, we now have high speed rail from Chicago to my hometown of Kalamazoo. Soon, it will be to Port Huron and Pontiac.
Applachia0928 2 weeks ago
@JessMenu Gas will never come down to 1 to 2 dollars. Not in this economy.
Applachia0928 2 weeks ago
They're not necessarily against high speed rail, their against people who don't want it paying for it. If people were truly informed on the how expensive fossil fuels will inevitably become, they would advocate it. But not the FEDERAL government paying for it...because they have no risk of failure, and the public is on the hook for any losses. This happens in the private sector as well, rail is a natural monopoly. Somone will eventually be able to make money providing good public transportation.
squarecracker 2 weeks ago
Trains are great for transporting goods. People? Not at all.
WestSkier11 3 weeks ago
@WestSkier11 Agree..Increase rail freight, Reduce long haul highway trucks, and Increase highway safty.
Icdean86 3 weeks ago
@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
historyboy08 2 weeks ago
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@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
historyboy08 2 weeks ago
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@WestSkier11 They can be if Congress properly utilizes funds for Amtrak. Already people can go from Seattle to Portland quicker than flying and without the unionized perverts feeling everyone up.
historyboy08 2 weeks ago
That's why a Diesel-Electric engine on average gets 482mpg. 4.5 times more efficient than air travel. Go Green
DylanHutsonTV 1 month ago
@DylanHutsonTV He shows a steam engine as a diesel in the clip...Ha
It takes 10 diesel engines to produce what 1 gas engines produces in emissions.
Icdean86 3 weeks ago
I know how nobody reads youtube comments but I wanted to point out that this would definitely reduce traffic in major Interstate hubs, by massively reducing cars driving through the atlanta i75/85 junction. That'd be great, at least for me.
MrTobyck 2 months ago
The video states that California's line could cost up to 100 billion by 2020. Just read today that they announced it will be 98.5 billion and be done by 2033. Anyone want to guess the real amount of money they will spend and when it will be done?
wiedz 2 months ago
from new york to DC, it would have less travel time, less congestion, can put the person at ease rather then drive 5 hours
djrocko410 2 months ago
More Big Oil whores who want to derail anything that does not promote oil consumption. Financed by the Koch brothers.
Railguy63 3 months ago
387 people were also angry when someone informed them corn ethanol does not work either
Train romanticism is alive and well. Facts do not matter
AtibbsSPARTAN 3 months ago
Why don't we end the subsidies for it all and let consumers make the best decisions? Funding all of these free access roads only encourages poor consumption habits.
AtibbsSPARTAN 3 months ago
i fuck reason tv in the ass every day
MrEiriku 3 months ago
blow me skanks
MrEiriku 3 months ago
Building more roads and airports makes sense, because they're free. LOL
Expanding even a short section of highway cost billions of dollars and millions more a year for policing and maintenance where does that money come from?
crazyjoeda 4 months ago
This video is straight nonsense. HSR is successful. Overseas and on the east coast of the united states so I know it will be successful across the country, especially with airline prices and headaches and gas prices flucuating. 90% of Amtraks routes have gone up in ridership and overall Amtrak ridership is up and keep going up. I think Obama should push HSR hard! in his infrastructure package.
trooper40below 4 months ago
Another video funded by one of many Koch Brothers owned Think Tank. Free-market distorted facts at it's best.
Loltochapel 4 months ago
This video is bull*t, high speed rail IS the way of the future
MrBitbyter 5 months ago
are you being sarcastic?
coryland21 5 months ago
you know back in the 30's to 50's the ten fastest trains in the world were american streamliners (qouted from Stremaliners)...when we had the time and took the pride in or rail network things were great but once other factors started to imped on the rail's tht changed it all..however i think its still possible for a highspeed railsystem because were all others fail trains pull up the slack...even intodays economy trains are still holding there own and are making new ways for us to do more things
EMDSD14R 5 months ago
@EMDSD14R in 1970's we had a second fastest train was the CN Turbo Train which could reach 135 MPH.
sideslide23 4 months ago
@sideslide23 yeah thts true also...i think the metroliner hit 160-170 on the NEC and the NYC Jet power RDC topped both..but ur right...i like tht train.. do u know if any of tose survived?
EMDSD14R 4 months ago
When it comes to Trains the euro and Asian trains make the USA trains look like crap
gandhi123100 5 months ago
@SteveNovak we spent all the money on Space shuttle program thats why the space shuttle is gone now.
sideslide23 5 months ago
HSR isn't supposed to turn a profit, neither is the NY Subway, but thats still useful.
pawpawnorth 5 months ago
YOU JUST WAIT........When gasoline soon goes to 5 to 10 dollars per gallon you will BEG for trains, fast or slow........You simple minded people......It is no wonder our nation is sinking into a third world status.......
sierracuban 5 months ago 6
@sierracuban not only gas price would hit $10 per gallon but Cars right now the cheapest car in America is $12,000 but it could hit $120,000 in 30 years and airline tickets would hit $1000 each way and then you would wish that Trains are back in America Fast or slow, electric, diesel, maglev or steam.
sideslide23 4 months ago
@sideslide23 YES INDEED SIDESLIDE 23.........These people who HATE trains are from a sort of RELIGION........They hate, hate, hate.........High speed trains are coming no matter what, but the future cost will now be truly PAINFUL......When people see gasoline prices at 10 dollars per gallons but with no trains, they will rush to request trains, but it will be TOO LATE......It will be like the people rushing to the side of Moses in the movie The Ten Commandments........TOO LATE...
sierracuban 4 months ago
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@sierracuban YOU JUST WAIT........When gasoline soon goes to 1 to 2 dollars per gallon you will BEG for no trains, fast or slow........You simple minded people......It is no wonder our nation is sinking into a third world status.......
JessMenu 4 months ago
@sierracuban
If highways were not free access roads people would have to make smarter decisions. End the subsidies
AtibbsSPARTAN 3 months ago
@sierracuban Refute the points in the video before calling others "simple-minded."
MooseOfReason 2 months ago
Yeah with $4.00 a gallon gas and traffic why would anyone want to ride high-speed rail.
MsZeitgeist85 5 months ago
this is a load of BS and incredibly misleading bias. whats the point of showing those 60s crappy animations too? i'm sorry but hearing this backward mindset of planes and cars being better than highspeedrail makes me pity where america is heading.. this guy, and a lot of you others too, need to see the rest of the world. please do, for the sake of your country.
ashdotA3 5 months ago
@ashdotA3 With 120 million population in Japan and any other densely population countries, they really need a fast-trains, and loaded of passengers every single day. If train can carries 300 people per trip. Then, by comparing that to California with a population of 40 million. I don't think its a good investment. People still using their cars. With a high-mile of destinations in California, this would be seems a far-fetched. CA will be subsidizing jobs creation, instead of market creating jobs!
gearzone2611 4 months ago
@jabuhrer1 agreed.
BacchusFA 6 months ago
Instead of using high speed rail, why doesn't the government make smaller inter city routes, quicker, more comfortable, and usable making them more worth while to use? Then add more conventional trains running reasonable times into places not severed by Amtrak like Asheville NC, Nashville, Chattanooga TN, Mobile, Montgomery AL, and Tallahassee FL. Even Diesel-Electric locomotives are cleaner then cars and air-travel. Its not rocket science it's RAILROADING,Common Sense and Critical Thinking.
homboldt 6 months ago
@homboldt
Yes, we should upgrade conventional rail routes throughout the country. Then we could build a couple true HSR lines in the Northeast, CA and FL eventually.
grover9559 5 months ago
@grover9559 Fully agreed conventional trains like Amtrak's and NCDOT's Piedmont and HSR routes on top in the Northeast, California, and Florida would be good for the country. Currently the NCDOT is trying to acquire CSX's line from Petersburg VA to Raleigh NC, only local trains go north from Raleigh to Norlina NC. Amtrak could send the Silver Star, Palmetto, The Carolinian and other high speed trains on this route only worrying about two to four CSX trains a day.
homboldt 5 months ago
Biggravens... we're going in circles here. What part of airport congestion (cars in traffic driving to the airport) don't you understand? That was my point. Yes, most traffic is within cities...so what? There are significant passenger miles expended between cities. I'm in the wrong harbor? HSR serves commuters AND intercity travel. Look at the plans in California. We're going in circles here. Like the video, you're just demonstrably wrong. Accept it and move on from your one-note ideology.
rrudick999 6 months ago
Biggravens...sigh. Seriously? The majority of California's electrical generation is natural gas, not coal. And California is working towards increasing its renewables portfolio--it's currently up to 14%, which is impressive. And the BTU/power consumption of a HSR overall is far less per passenger mile than cars or airplanes. That's just a fact. Look it up. It's laughable ignorant to suggest that HSR will pollute more than cars or planes.
rrudick999 6 months ago
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sideslide23 6 months ago
china beats your ass on technology, Osama won 9/11, USA finished. ka'boom. :) thanks for watching.
NeedleFactoryTube 6 months ago
Don't forget, folks, Reason TV (aka The Reason Foundation) is brought to you by the fine people from;
Koch Family Foundations
Exxon Mobil
Scaife Foundations (Gulf Oil)
And many others!
sourcewatch(dot)org
FiendNCheeses 6 months ago
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Oernie1982 6 months ago
there constructiong it right now in Illinoia, If Illinoi HSR are underconstruction right now, so can California.
sideslide23 7 months ago
@sideslide23 Illinois is so broke that they about to run out of money for all public works projects. California is broke as well. California is so vast that HSR wouldn't be effective as they it is a boondoggle. Its already 50 billion and growing and not one single peice of track has been laid. Most people could fly to LA from San Francisco in less than an hour on a plane, San Diego in an hour and 15 minutes, plus it cheaper.
ScientologyStoners 6 months ago
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sideslide23 6 months ago
@ScientologyStoners
Total bs. During the Depression, California completed many public works projects like Hoover Dam, Hetch Hetchy aquaduct, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Highways, and many other projects. We built our way out of the Depression. We didn't sit around hoping things would get better.
"California is so vast ..."
The geography of CA is similar to Japan and it not only works well there but makes a very good profit.
HSR is cheaper than flying. It's also faster door-to-door.
FiendNCheeses 6 months ago
@FiendNCheeses well have to wait and find out in 13 months from now you'll never know till then.
sideslide23 5 months ago
China just completed their high speed 300-350mph super train in 2 years, Obama is a complete failure, 8 billion is nothing. 150mph.. pffft.. lol , Obama is too busy spreading his ass cheeks for GM and military industrial complex that he loves so much. The Goldman Sachs puppet is too busy giving trillions to banks and corporations, thanks for the "CHANGE"
SKUNKBALLScom 7 months ago
@l1nuxun1l (...) Take spanish RAVE case for an example, which has similar caracteristics to those of California. Now, concerning the 8 billion bill to complete the project: yes, it will most probably derail on it's own. But I challenge you to present one single large public project in the american history that hasn't.
zeph7r 7 months ago
@l1nuxun1l (...) because an high-speed train takes you directly from one city-center to another. Everywhere it has been implemented it has contributed significantly to the revitalization of the railways, because all this advantages comes at a low-cost carrier-like ticket price, that along with implemented systems of discounts for early ticket buyers (which have at least happened in Spain to the extent of my knowledge), cause the ridership to be high. (...)
zeph7r 7 months ago
@l1nuxun1l (...) High speed rail is extremely competitive on the medium range transportation (exactly what happens at both intra and contiguous state levels), because its travel time is comparable to airline carriers and its effective travel time (when compared to air transportation, which must include check-in and transfer times to and from city centers) is much lower, and we have to consider the significant less hazardous experience it represents to the traveller, (...)
zeph7r 7 months ago
@l1nuxun1l yes, because this so-called facts are, in fact, lies. High speed rail has largely been a success everywhere it has been implemented. High speed rail lines are, in fact, lucrative -- this has happened everywhere: Japan, France, Germany, the 'Eurostar' international train, and more recently in Spain -- and it stands the only form of rail transportation where this occurs. (...)
zeph7r 7 months ago
DEFEATEST TV
viewson800 7 months ago
The main reason i would like high speed rail is that someone in another city has an opportunity to work in city A and live in city B
dav44633 7 months ago
500 BILLIONS ???
USA GDP is almost 15000 billion dollars/year.
You can't spend 500 billions in the next years for HSR but you WASTED AND STILL WASTING THOUSANDS OF BILLIONS ON WARS AND OTHER USELESS THINGS ???
OPEN YOUR EYES YOU BRAINWASHED MORONS WHO OPPOSE HSR !!!
HSR would be one of the MOST USEFUL INVESTMENTS in your country !
SuperThe86 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 see what you fail to understand is that we in the us are a country are a country of morons too dependant on our personal vehichals to realise this. we dont care that we spend 4 dollars per gallon and sit for 3 hours on the highway everyday. as long as we have our new car. yes when it comes to hsr america surely is trying to miss the boat, well train.
mrnickelplate 7 months ago
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@SuperThe86 see what you fail to understand is that we in the us are a country are a country of morons too dependant on our personal vehichals to realise this. we dont care that we spend 4 dollars per gallon and sit for 3 hours on the highway in traffic jams everyday. as long as we have our new car. yes when it comes to hsr america surely is trying to miss the boat, well train.
mrnickelplate 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 every one wants to speed either we build high speed rail or GET RIDE OF THE DAM SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AND LET US DRIVE OUR OWN CARS 150 MPH.
sideslide23 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 the Space shuttle program was the most costly project ever done int he U.S. Nasa was the most costly investment. we built 5 real space shuttle we crashed two of them, and now were retiring all 4 of the space shuttle and now were going to rent the Russian rocket ship to get to the space station.
sideslide23 6 months ago
This is bullshit !
High speed trains travel MUCH FASTER than cars !
A high speed train travels 500 miles in 3 hours-3 hours30min. How much time it takes to travel 500 miles by car? TIME COSTS MONEY !
And it's better to use a train than a plane for a distance of 500 miles.Airports are already very congested.
BTW, high speed trains are electric and OIL COMPANIES DON'T LIKE THAT !
I cannot believe than some americans are so stupid to oppose HSR.
SuperThe86 7 months ago 4
@SuperThe86 dont worry. our government will soon start investing in super cool smart things like highways that you can travel at 200 mph on. who needs something reasonable like trains. we have cars to take us where we want to go. and cars are cooler. seriously are we even trying anymore?
mrnickelplate 7 months ago
@mrnickelplate I suppose this is only an ironical joke.
Germany has highways with no speed limit. But to travel at very high speed you need a very powerful car which is very expensive.Also you will have to spend a lot of money on gas. And you cant drive for hours at very high speed.
Many Americans believe someone's taking their cars. It's not true. The growing traffic should be redirected to high speed trains because highways and airports are already congested. HSR is just a good alternative.
SuperThe86 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 I guess everything that goes 100 + MPH on American lands are all illegal so thats why.
sideslide23 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 But most of the Autobahn is now speed limit imposed to 100 km/h. I was there, fairly dissapointed.
gibb1991 6 months ago
@SuperThe86 exactly, try driving 200MPH and then you'll be locked up in jail for speeding.
sideslide23 7 months ago
@SuperThe86 not the only thing, right now the price tag on a newer car right now is $12,000 in 30 years from the price tag on a newer car like a honda fit would be $125,000 and you may not be able to afford a new car ever again.
sideslide23 6 months ago
We need these trains to help with congestion when people travel Imagine going from NY to Florida in say 7 hours or less.
The flight is normally 2:30 when I fly from Buffalo to Orlando, I have to arrive 2 hours before my flight, and have another 30 minutes to get my bags after, so I'm already at 5 hours for my trip, and that's if everything goes perfectly and were not backed up waiting for take off. Plus I like the fact that I'm thousand of feet closer to the ground.
osmith128 7 months ago
@osmith128 True... and almost zero weather delays; plus HSR is always built on fully dedicated lines. No chance of collision at speed.
hyaenidae 7 months ago
This dude's a scumbag. A SCUMBAG! If it is up to shitfucks like this guy, America will be on the fast track to an even more looked-down-upon country, technologically, socially, and infrastructurally. This guys a fuckin loser... and NO ONE would even need to go through the Lincoln Tunnel coming from Boston!! Unless youre on your way to Newark... This guy's a DIPSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chrcomba1 8 months ago
This dude's a scumbag. A SCUMBAG! If it is up to shitfucks like this guy, America will be on the fast track to an even more looked-down-upon country, technologically, socially, and infrastructurally. This guys a fuckin loser... and NO ONE would even need to go through the Lincoln Tunnel coming from Boston!! Unless youre on your way to Newark... This guy's a DIPSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chrcomba1 8 months ago
@chrcomba1 - the sad thing is that many ppl will believe him
Amidat 7 months ago
I should also point out that WHATEVER the politicians say and promise always tends to be a lie. And moreover any supposed 'benefits' should be closely re-evaluated. The govt can NOT provide anything positive. If the 'high speed rail' is so desirable, entrepreneurs will invest their own money & take their own risks in the marketplace. But if u have politicians advertisin this or that, u can be almost 99% certain that there are special interest groups behind that
swu880 8 months ago
i am glad Florida dint take the offer
jigilowman 8 months ago
There is better, cheaper and greener system then these trains that kills thousand of wild life every year
see it on
smtrail.com
smtlive 8 months ago
@smtlive And those would be ? The highway system alone absolutely trivializes the impact of rail.
hyaenidae 8 months ago
High speed rail works within distances of less than 300miles like no other mean of transportation. For longer distances the airplane wins again regarding travel time. Regarding convenience yet there is nothing like a high speed train.
Have a look at Europe to see it works.
The mindset in this video is scaring and outdated. The reasons are all false except for the cost. You really won't come far with 8 billion. But it's a start!
qora01m 8 months ago 2
@qora01m You're right about the 300 miles. But those trips of 300 miles or less make up almost 40% of all the flights from the major U.S. hub airports. And train stations, as opposed to airports, are generally located in city centers; not requiring the secondary transport mode an airport needs, usually cabs or buses, to reach that city center.
WaltK13 8 months ago
This video and the reasons does not make sense. We'd rather spend now, reduce road and airspace congestion. Studies have shown that expanding roads and airports are simply NOT FEASABLE and way too costly. In fact, Airplanes and Busses have Very Limited Capacity, Rail can have Better capacity loads. Think about a railcar equivalent to 2 Doulbe Decker Vanhool MegaBus, 3 railcars have the equivalent to an average sized commercial jet. You'll be knocked out and regret putting this video up, smh.....
NorthEastRegional 8 months ago
this video is not reasonable...
rtaywill 9 months ago 2
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StJoes0509 9 months ago
Much is made of the $30 billion spent on Amtrak over the last 30 years, but in that same period the federal government spent $1.89 TRILLION on air and highway modes, according to the New York Times and Washington Post.
Lets see how many airports and highways get built if government subsidies disappeared.
StJoes0509 9 months ago 13
@StJoes0509 If you really want to look at numbers fairly, why not consider the costs-per-rider-per trip. I think that you'll find that the government spends many times more money per train rider than per automobile driver/passenger. As it turns out, cars are just more practical than trains and people prefer that practicality. An automobile always goes exactly to the destination that you'd like to go to (given that there's parking). Trains, on the other hand, don't.
flash3780 4 months ago
If it really could make money then let the private sector build it... Why do we need government to build it? I guess because the private sector knows it would not make money. So I guesss Obummer wants to waiste tax dollars on his idea and let us pay the tab later when it starts losing money like Amtrack.
donttelluseenme 9 months ago
@donttelluseenme When is the last time you saw an airport built by the private sector or the highways they need to connect them to the cities they serve? Not only that, but 25% of the funding for the air-traffic control system comes from the General Fund not from airline, jet-fuel, ticket or cargo taxes. That 25% dwarfs the amount of money Amtrak receives and makes the airline industry the most federally subsidized of all American industries.
WaltK13 8 months ago
Cars == Externalities == economic inefficiency
utubenotgoodasgvideo 9 months ago
I'd like to see someone discuss a private bus system. Currently private bus operators are locked out of the market by licence fees and public transport rules.
What if public bus routes were opened up to private operators too?
LibertyDownUnder 9 months ago
@LibertyDownUnder - there are actually private buses. In NYC Chinese have their own buses that go between the heavily Chinese areas in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. There did also used to be more "conventional" types... but they were unprofitable.. so they got swallowed up by the government. If you look at most infrastructure and/or transportation anytime there is a private operator they almost always go out of business without subsidy. Even ferries.
Amidat 8 months ago
@Amidat, $1 vans (now cost $2) are running throughout New York, and the unions are trying to ban them:
But it's no wonder many of these go out of business as they have to compete with heavily subsidised council services, and pay taxes on top of that!
A taxi operating licence in NYC is $600 grand.
LibertyDownUnder 8 months ago
@LibertyDownUnder - that's a "yellow" cab... livery cabs don't cost that much. The dollar vans you speak of are not the same as the legal Chinese buses I was talking about. All transportation companies have a lot of expenses because of all the safety requirements. You ever travel to a major city in the "third world" that doesn't have a lot of traffic enforcement or regulations? Very dangerous... I know because my family comes from one.
Amidat 8 months ago
@Amidat, safety regulations do not add that much to the cost. I'd be amazed if it's even 2%.
Most of the high cost of public transport goes to overpaid drivers, inefficient union staff, and general missmanagement.
LibertyDownUnder 8 months ago
@LibertyDownUnder - no it's way more than 2%... trainings, inspections, etc. etc. but yes all the other things you stated have an effect. The less you pay drivers, etc. though is the less quality you will get. There is no easy fix. As I said it's better than traffic chaos. As I said - go to any capital city in a developing nation where the regulations are lax and the drivers are paid a pittance and you will see. I have a cousin's adopted child who just died a couple of months ago.
Amidat 8 months ago
@Amidat, union regulations are not what lifted the US out of poverty, I don't know why you keep bringing 3rd world countries into this.
High union wages do not mean better drivers. In many cases its the opposite.
Please watch this clip if you have the time: /watch?v=-W_dgWeB31I
It's part 1 of 6.
LibertyDownUnder 8 months ago
@LibertyDownUnder - it's surely debateable what brought out of poverty. I bring up third world countries because it is quite relevant. As a matter of fact... take a look at the states that have the highest vehicle fatalities and likewise pedestrian.. the same ones that are so "free" and have little regulation.
Amidat 8 months ago
High speed Rail is good for the economy. It creates alot of work and is good for the economy!
sassa82 9 months ago
@sassa82 No it does not create work, it creates inefficiencies in the economy because people are doing work and taking money where they don't need to be. What is good for the economy is people identifying markets and filling those markets with a good product.
happykillmore88 9 months ago
@happykillmore88 There's ample evidence that it does create work, and also enhances local economies by eliminating inefficiencies in regional commerce vis a vis the ripple effect of enhanced (faster), more flexible (all weather) transportation corridors. BART, bullet train, TGV, for example.
So in fact they can fill a niche with a quality product.
hyaenidae 8 months ago
@hyaenidae If the government pays someone to move piles of dirt around they create 'work' but its not efficient. As well there in my state, in fl there is no great need to move people from the st pete/tampa bay area to orlando because there are few jobs in both places.
happykillmore88 8 months ago
@happykillmore88 - the I-4 is terribly insufficient now. It's not 1980 when central Florida was still "open". I drove from NY to Kissimee for an event and we were stuck for 2 hours on I-4 after having no problems the whole way down on I95. Btw - ask Rockland - Dutchess - Orange counties in NY how much they have benefitted by having people priced out of NYC who are still able to get to there jobs because of the commuter rail system (Metro North). Also Long Island - New Jersey and Connecticut.
Amidat 8 months ago
YOU ARE AN IDIOT HIGH SPEED RAILS ARE WHAT WE NEED SO WE CAN LIVE IN SF AND WORK IN LOS ANGELES I LOVE AMTRAK BUT WOULD LOVE TO GET TO LA / ORANGE COUNTY QUICKER
galebaron09 9 months ago
@galebaron09 Then go to business school start a business and build it yourself.
happykillmore88 8 months ago
IS THIS PERSON RETARDED!?
ok, i lived in japan for several years now, and the railroad industry is THE MOST PROFITABLE BUSSINESS IN JAPAN.
DOES THIS PERSON EVEN HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH MONEY CENTRAL JAPAN RAIL COMPANY (aka JR-Central) MAKES EVERY YEAR!?
AMTRAK DOESNT MAKE MONEY BECAUSE THEY SUCK. BULLET TRAINS DONT SUCK. BIG DIFFERENCE.
TOUZAI231 9 months ago 3
@TOUZAI231 Very few bullet trains yield profits, thats why the private sector doesn't mess around with them.
happykillmore88 8 months ago
But fuel taxes are disproportionately paid by urban users driving on local roads (often not funded by fuel taxes), and idling in traffic jams. These funds then frequently support the construction of highways in unpopulated areas for the purpose of economic development. While the rail projects in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida were required to show their utility in the first year of operation, highways are frequently built before the economic development and traffic demand even exist.
hyaenidae 9 months ago
@hyaenidae - I agree. Actually driving on I-95 in Virginia and North Carolina recently I saw dozens of highway overpasses being built that were near no population centers at all. Then these things are built ridiculously high. I mean I think 3 18 wheelers stacked on top of each other could pass through easily. Why do they need such clearance heights?? Think of the wasted concrete - time - additional engineering fees - etc. Largesse to appease some local congress member if you ask me.
Amidat 8 months ago
@hyaenidae - you are correct.. and usually it's because some senator wants "jobs" for his region... so in order to get his vote on something they "trade" by giving his low population are these "road jobs".
Amidat 7 months ago
What is it about countries that speak English - specifically the UK and USA? They are the most short sighted, unambitious countries in the world. Just about every other country in the developed world has invested in High Speed rail and in every case it has been a resounding success, yet the Anglo Saxons bury their heads in the sand and claim they know best.
rickerbycourt 9 months ago
@rickerbycourt If you keep redefining success, everything's successful
macornelius 9 months ago
so whats the answer. i drive a tanker truck for shell in ohio, when the gas prices were 1.80 a gl back in 2000 when i was hired i delivered a million gals a mnth. now gas prices are 4 bucks a gal im still doing a million gals a mnth. we are not conserving gas so wtf..
megaflex48 9 months ago
but bullet trains are cool! thats all the reason you need to build!
mitachapin 9 months ago
@mitachapin CAn you afford a Lamborgini, Farrari, Dodge Viper GTS? No? than youll be driving a ford taurus, CAl America afford a high speed rail? No? than well be taking a Greyhound bus.
sideslide23 9 months ago 2
I look at this guy, and the first thing I notice is his jet black TOUPEE. Gee, I wonder where the funding for this video comes from.
deliciousmorton 9 months ago
bullet trains run on electric power not diesel asia and europe or more advanced than us the only area in usa that needs high speed is in the northeast acela aint enough
gandhi123100 9 months ago 2
He he he I love this video its so funny! I do love a good parody ;-) Very witty.
soundseeker63 10 months ago
My goodness. This video is just so full of mistakes and BS I don't even know where to start. Bullet trains aren't cleaner than cars and airplanes? It won't reduce congestion? Urban traffic doesn't include drives from the airport or cars coming from other cities?
rrudick999 10 months ago 14
@rrudick999 Well most traffic into a given metro area probably comes from within 50 miles of said area. Take into account that the proposed train system only connects major cities (and not all of them) and you are left with a good percentage of the population still needing to drive to even get to the train stations (something left out when discussing how trains will eliminate traffic problems).He also didn't say bullet trains are less efficient, he said the ones PLANNED are less efficient
poop2poop2 9 months ago
It's just a question of how the US lines are PLANNED? Cool. The Reason Foundation supports HSR--they just want to tweak the planning. Awesome. I'm sure their people are getting right on those improved HSR plans. Of course many people will still need to drive on government-built roads. But it will give millions more an alternative. Look, the use of the "Supertrain" video says it all. Reason isn't in this for a serious policy discussion.
rrudick999 9 months ago
@rrudick999
urban traffic is mostly local urban traffic- the traffic in the beltway is traffic in the beltway. its not some mysterious aggregate that can be moved around like this or that. Cars are plainly far more convenient than cumbersome raillines & such. "non-local" traffic hardly contributes even a fraction to the urban traffic. Like i said Urban traffic is URBAN - its what gets like 90% of us to & from work- either that or walking
swu880 8 months ago
@rrudick999 other than the fact that that bullet trains are electric.... but electric trains create emisions right.... and running trains from the airports to the citys wont acctually take people from.... the airports to the citys....
mrnickelplate 7 months ago
@rrudick999 Bullet trains run on ELECTRICITY, smart one. And electricity comes mainly from coal, which is more polluting than oil. And your second point not only misses the boat, it doesn't even go to the right harbor. His point was that high speed rail is mainly for traveling between cities, when driving can tend to be impractical, whereas most traffic is within one city area- think Los Angeles or New York.
bigravensfan21 6 months ago
This video is wrong in more than just three ways.
Such a fundamental misunderstanding of the benefits of high-speed is truly pathetic.
blinkieme 10 months ago
This video is wrong in more than just three ways.
Such a fundamental misunderstanding of the benefits of high-speed is truly pathetic.
blinkieme 10 months ago
Combine HSR w/ restriction/banning of privately owned vehicles in city limits, MASSIVELY improved public transportation & pedestrian & non-motorized vehicle traffic flow.
I imagine that would improve living conditions within cities & reduce overall pollution.
Yes, I know it would cost countless numbers of units of imaginary currency.
I also advocate switching to a more resource-based economy where preservation of resources is valued. I hope this would encourage innovation through conservation.
Gripfang 10 months ago
But of course you can afford all the pointless wars you have going on. German HSR runs at a profit has recuped all the money back and has shut down its internal flights because HSR is both quicker and cheeper than flying. And Germany was the only Euro country to top 3.5% growth last year. In fact all the countries showing the highest growth recently all have HSR.
bassist118 10 months ago
3 reasons why the poster of this video is a fucking retard.
disbsam333 10 months ago
Trains belong in 19th century.
kapsi 10 months ago
@kapsi You've just presented the fine intelligence of a person who still has the mental picture of old steamers clunking along at 20 mph. Bravo...
gibb1991 10 months ago
if the government didn't subsidize roads then maybe we would have private rail systems. just a thought.
firebadger101 10 months ago
MORE ROADS?! Are you an idiot? Thats what has us in gridlock every day in our cities!!
jrnavid 10 months ago
What California needs is a high speed rail to VEGAS. Both States would benefit greatly. Who wouldn't pay $100 to catch an hour and a half ride on Friday after work to head to Vegas without the hassle of airport lines and security or sitting in congested traffic?
kockrock 10 months ago
My experience in traveling abroad is that trains are a very efficient and affordable way to travel. Granted they cost money in the long run, they also produce jobs. The gentleman in the video proposed to build more roads. Obviously this guy has never stepped foot in California. If he had, he would realize there is little room for creation and that land would have to be bought which could lead to all sorts of problems simply int trying to obtain it.
kockrock 10 months ago
I say this as a Republican by the way.
Why don't we end the drug war and use that money (something like ~47 BILLION annually) to fund the projects? That is what Obama should have done instead of his idiotic stimulus bill.
IrishInColumbus 10 months ago
@IrishInColumbus
Why don't we end the fed anyways.
jmjfanss 10 months ago
Also, there simply isn't enough room for all of the cars on the roads, even if you widen them. At current rates, the US is projected to add ~100 million new cars by 2050. That is impossible to do.
Then, to really blow your mind, you should know that widening roads actually makes the traffic problem worse. It only alleviates the congestion on neighboring roads. This is because the incentive to use that road is now exponentially greater, and thus any benefit is undone by more use.
IrishInColumbus 10 months ago
First off, building more roads is not the answer. You know the federal government subsidized 90% of interstate construction, right? I don't see you bitching about that. Plus it costs ~$250,000,000 to build one interstate exchange. It's completely unsustainable. You just don't see the costs because they are harder to look for. What will you do when gas tax revenues decrease to do better MPG on your vehicle? When you juxtapose the amount spend on roads and rail, it's ridiculous.
IrishInColumbus 10 months ago
I have a better idea. Let's use offshore oil drilling to fund high speed rail...
Rickyrab 10 months ago 5
If there were Viable source of High speed rail, we take it but there isn't so we should be drilling for more oil Build more offshore oil rigs.
sideslide23 11 months ago
Its because of Freaking new elected Govenor.
sideslide23 11 months ago
Another insanely expensive government plan that will not pay off in some distant future. We are facing insane deficits. Now is not the time to start new projects. If anything this shows that Obama is really not serious about the debt crisis, and is clueless on the problem.
jeffmonc2 11 months ago
@jeffmonc2 You r right dude! Hell why need any "High trains" High speed buses r perfect. It's green, efficient n cheap!!!!! Obama knows shit about debt crisis! 100% support for "Onion network " views.
ianc119 10 months ago
CUTE......BUT ALL PURE ANTI-RAIL PROPAGANDA.....Some nut cases out there just HATE trains for some reason.....They are traumatized.......When gas hits 5 dollars per gallon, and then 7 or 8 dollars, you will be glad you have mass transit....
Then the TRAUMAS will be different.....AND.....HIGH SPEED RAIL = JOBS.....
sierracuban 11 months ago
The problem is, that these people have the ideology, that the market itself makes the best decisions. They rewrite history and do not understand, that capitalism has always needed an intelligent state as longterm strategic thinking partner.
When the oil price rises then private investors will consider building a railway...This is their logic, they do not understand, that this will take many years, and that in the meantime their economy fucks up
ChineseAtheist 11 months ago
@ChineseAtheist YOU ARE CORRECT CHINESE ATHEIST.......A very good response, thank you......
IT IS TRUE that private enterprise will build the train when gasoline prices go very high ! !
THE PROBLEM as you know is that it may be TOO LATE by then.....
sierracuban 11 months ago
@ChineseAtheist the state can't even be intelligent in the short term, and there's very few examples in history where it has been sucessful in the longterm on some project. Because of the calculation problem, central planning in any form can never work, regardless of how much capitalism you allow.
If you can accurately predict that railways will be sucessful in the future, invest in them with your own money, take the risk and reap the reward, and don't force it on everyone else!
Houshalter 11 months ago 2
This is pure rhetorics. It is well known, that the entrance costs in some markets are to high for private investors. Why do you think does the Boeing - Airbus duopoly exist? The railway also has strong scale effects: When only a few people use it, it sucks.
If you really studied, how much innovation in human history, were caused by state intervention (military, space...), if you really studied the 19th rise of Japan, you would understand the importance of the state. Laissez-fire does not work
ChineseAtheist 11 months ago
@ChineseAtheist but it clearly does! How much innovation has been produced by the state is pretty subjective. How do you determine the value of an "innovation"? Obviously it would be how much it is worth on the market, what other people are willing to pay for it. If that is higher then what it costs, then people can invest their own money in these projects. Having a state do it is unnecessary. If it's lower, then it shouldn't be done at all. The same goes for railways.
Houshalter 11 months ago 3
@Houshalter Where were all the privet dollars in highway funding?
Ham549 10 months ago
@Ham549 stolen from your pocket.
Houshalter 10 months ago
@ChineseAtheist Don't forget one of the greatest examples of the mighty State - the White Sea Canal, which costed the lives of 100000 people at Stalin's whim.
kapsi 10 months ago
@sierracuban paying people to dig holes and fill them back in = jobs, and yet it benefits no one.
If you can accurately predict that gas will rise that much, invest your own money based on that and leave the rest of us alone.
Houshalter 11 months ago
CUTE.....BUT ALL ANTI-RAIL PROPANGANDA.....
sierracuban 11 months ago
THIS GUY IS THE MISTAKE.....HE FAILS to mention that the price of a barrel of oil has now hit 100 dollars, and will one day hit 200......Once that happens AIRLINE
TRAVEL WILL BE DEAD.....He almost sounds like he works for General Motors or Chevron Oil.....HE ALSO FAILS to mention that back in 1922 a man by the name of ALFRED P. SLOAN JR. of GM devised a company which was successful in dismantling all of our inner city trolley lines.....WHY DID YOU NOT MENTION THIS MR. REASON IN THE TOILET TV ?
sierracuban 11 months ago
we dont need obamas communist rail at all.
MrTabby5000 11 months ago
@MrTabby5000 COMMUNIST RAIL ??? MARK MY WORDS TABBY : Gasoline will hit 5 dollars per gallon in 2011, and sometime in the next five years we will be at 6 to 8 dollars per gallon......Back in 2008 when our son graduated from the United States Marine Corps we took the Amtrak train from Miami to Savanna, Georgia, and the train was packed to the brim, you see Tabby, gas was 4.50 per gallon.....All of this talk about people not riding the train is PURE HOGWASH......THIS VIDEO IS HOGWASH.
sierracuban 11 months ago
Hey you ignorant "reasonTV" what about increased petrol prices? That will definately affect cars, buses and AIRPLANES. A high speed train use electricity!
Nichen 11 months ago
@Nichen true because 30 years from now, If we don't get HSR at all then gas price will hit $10 per gallon, Air fairs from L.A. to New York City will hit $1000 each way per passenger in econ class, and Greyhound Bus ticket would hit $500 each way per passenger now think about it.
sideslide23 11 months ago
@Nichen RIGHT ON NICHEN ! THIS GUY MUST BE A GENERAL MOTORS SPY....Read my other e-mail post on how GENERAL MOTORS was successful in KILLING RAIL LINES in The United States...WE the People of The United States of America have been BRAINWASHED by GM and BIG OIL, into love affairs with our cars...Back in the 1950' s TV commercials depicted people as PATRIOTS for buying Chevrolets..
HIGH SPEED RAIL SHALL SUCCEED MR. REASON IN THE TOILET TV.....IT WILL PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE USA.
sierracuban 11 months ago
High speed rails would create millions of new jobs ,get people out of there cars , and reduce pollution and traffic and make America a more desirable place to vacation for tourists , and the money spent would be nothing compered to what we give to the privately owned federal reserve system and all the sleazy thieving wall street boys and insurance companies and other large corporations that receive many more billions in subsidies , not to mention foreign aid or bribery , invest in the U.S.A. !
mikehanoo33 11 months ago
@mikehanoo33 Behind the scenes, waiting in the wings, is China. This high speed rail scam is tailor made for China They want some guarantees for the money they have loaning us, you know, the interest on the money that has been building all those beautiful cities in China, well anyway, China wants to have some real estate, some right of way in America. And China would like to own the high speed rail systems for profits for 100 years. Obama is game.
TAMARLANE 11 months ago
In 50-150 years the prices for fuel will go up and then the countries with a strong railway system will have a huge advantage towards the US which is dependent on planes
China, China, China...you are so obsessed with China. Germany/Siemens makes the best high-speed rail, an US-Siemens cooperation is much more likely than a Chinese project.
ChineseAtheist 11 months ago
@ChineseAtheist Do you read with comprehension? Did I fail to tell my story clearly? I mentioned nothing about who has the best system. I mentioned nothing about anything except that which I have knowledge. The US government, Obama, is in secret negotiations to allow China to acquire land in the US and finance and build and operate a high speed rail system for China's personal profit.
This is kow towing to China for lending the US so much money. It is crime.
TAMARLANE 11 months ago
@TAMARLANE - I didn't vote for Obama...and I won't be in the next election either... but blaming him is a complete joke. The Chinese were doing quite well for themselves in buying American debt during the Bush years. Likewise the debt spiraled out of control - again - under Bush's watch. Don't try to re-write history. You are doing the same thing as this video... and that is why there is little progress.
Amidat 8 months ago
@Amidat Where are the lawsuits against this President? There should be many lawsuits against this man for surrounding himself with radical extremist insurrectionist advisers. Why aren't there claims against this man for dereliction of duty, for treason, for misfeasance, malfeasance, non-feasance, for bribery, for lying under oath, for theft, for any number of criminal acts that are costing us our freedom?
TAMARLANE 8 months ago
@TAMARLANE - well again - if you want to file lawsuits against him... then you'd have to against Bush... and many other past Presidents.
Amidat 8 months ago