California's High Speed Rail - KQED QUEST

State transportation planners have nearly finished designing a high-tech bullet train system that would take passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two hours at 220 mph -- faster than a Ferrari. But will California voters pay for it?

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Science & Technology

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• kqed
• pbs
• rail
• train
• califronia
• science
• quest
• kqedquest
• engineering
• physics

[cupwithhandles]

AMEN brother. You got it right. Don't forget China (BIGGER than America). China has gleeming high speed trunk lines already, plus worlds 1st operating Maglev. I live in Tokyo and haven't own a car in 6 years. If you gave me one I would sell it. Electric cars are NOT the answer, but will make the problem worse. You are 100% right about jobs. Building out and operating rail systems can employ many times more than the big 3 and all their subs ever did.

[cupwithhandles]

"That was a shock" - What???? America is not a "developing country" when it comes to rail. America is 3rd world, or worse. Taiwan built a world class subway system plus high speed trunks lines in about 15 years. China (a HUGE country) is rapidly developing urban commute, and high speed trunk lines. Japan's rail is a modern world wonder. Sadly, when I go to LA, I have to wait for someone to pick me up at the airport, or just not go.

[MrEiriku]

@Neo2012100 your penis is a hoax

[carrillobrian]

Great video and debate. For more information or to support this awesome idea go to superspeedtrain . We are just getting started and could use the interest.

[carrillobrian]

Great video and debate. For more information or to support this awesome idea go to superspeedtrain . We are just getting started and could use the interest.

[Helge129]

@Modeltrainguy Spain? The Train system in general here kinda sucks.

[FiendNCheeses]

@bsquadrider

So then should I assume you're also opposed to the widening of Highway 99? It's either an 8 lane highway or high-speed rail and trains move people much more efficiently and take up less space than freeways. Somebody always has to make a sacrifice with a project of this size. Maybe it should be the people on the coast? As long as it's not you, right?

[bsquadrider]

@FiendNCheeses it's not only ours its 100's of others up and down the central valley, the more and more we destroy our farmland the pricier and more dangerous our food becomes from importing it from other countries. Agriculture is the United State's number one economic provider when it comes to income and you don't care? You know nothing about our countrie's livelihood and the farmers that are the backbone of this country,

[FiendNCheeses]

@bsquadrider

37 million Californians are depending on this project. Fuck your family farm.

[sierracuban]

@gavrieltal I AGREE ! Most people are selfish, not thinking about the future.......High speed rail is NOT for next year, it is for 20 and 30 years from now.......In that time frame freeways will be jammed packed beyond belief....And what about the price of oil  ?? In the years 2020 to 2030 a gallon of gasoline may be anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars per gallon...If you think that's ridiculous you are in denial.....In 1964 as a boy, I pumped gas in my dad's station at 23 cents per gal.

[bsquadrider]

this high speed rail is ripping right through my hometown and my families' farmland, people don't realize the negative impact of this project it has on the central valley.

[avmsf]

two questions: what makes anyone think that HSR will be faster than air travel? I'm sure there will be long security check points before boarding that will add several hours to the length of the trip. Also, why does the San Francisco line go through to downtown SF? The added cost extending another rail line from SFO to downtown will be several billions of dollars. The HSR should end at SFO and passengers should then use BART to get to SF/Oakland.