Mad Fast Trains

Two stars of the hit show, "Mad Men," are big fans of high-speed rail. And they've teamed up with U.S. PIRG and the humor website Funny or Die to make a short video that's launching on the site today.

Please go to http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/7e1b... and vote this video "Funny." That will keep us at the top of the page longer, and help build more buzz for fast trains.

• Category

  Nonprofits & Activism

[gnuoyd]

The government pays for roads to be built. It does not turn a profit on roads. When automakers do not pay for the roads that we drive their cars on, it is not fair to demand that passenger rail compete without government investment against highway transportation.

A similar argument goes for air travel: governments pay for airports to be built and for many of the operating costs.

[comatusfilms]

Although most passenger rail isn't profitable, true high speed lines such as the TGV are operationally profitable and do pay for themselves eventually after the initial government investment in capital. We need to be clear that they're supporting high speed (200mph +) rail not just any passenger rail, which is not normally profitable.

[Khalif Jones]

Americas high speed rail plan includes certian tracks into canada

[TheDSil]

"I did have one other idea: a man... are you following me?"

[Jacob Lyon]

lol - get a bumper sticker.

[NewsSocial]

I know. I live in California, we are currently building one that will be finished by the end of 2010s. I lived in West Germany before that and was able to choose between 5 high speed trains that took me to all over Europe. We are far behind.

[otavallai]

Living for the last three years in a land where they have HSR, I can't imagine moving back to the US or California until they have it going there. I don't need a slick ad campaign to tell me it simply works. But it's a good clip nonetheless.

[MsPerfectsquare]

Propaganda? It's everywhere. Just turn on Fox 'news' for your daily share of right-wing propaganda.

[canofsand]

Hollywood's back in the business of propaganda, I see. Oh, of course, they never left it, but it's usually not so blatant.

[MaxPennington]

On the Interstate Highway System it's possible to travel between the northern and southern borders and the Pacific and Atlantic and Gulf coasts at highway speeds with no cross traffic. A system of modern rail lines could be constructed with less capital and environmental impact. It would be exponentially safer and many times more energy efficient. Highways freed of much high tonnage traffic would be cheaper to maintain. What will it cost to steer Congress in this direction?

[MaxPennington]

By 1965 the New York Central Railroad had lost much of its passenger traffic to the NY State Thruway. The Long Island Rail Road was still running equipment from the turn of the century. Cars lacked air conditioning and frequently had no heat.The Metroliner was an optimistic gesture but the cars were designed to evoke the appearance of an airliner. It's hard to imagine such a conversation in 1965. Such discussion is urgently needed and too many opportunities have been missed.

[MaxPennington]

I remember New York in 1965. The beautiful Pennsylvania Station (architects McKim, Mead, White) had just been destroyed by the geniuses at the ill-fated Pennsylvania Railroad. Madison Square Garden and a nondescript steel and glass building stand in its place. Plans were already underway for the destruction of Grand Central Terminal, to be replaced by, among other things, a bowling alley, with passengers relegated to underground access similar to Penn's charmless rabbit warren.