http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23880829 en Fri, 24 May 2013 13:39:33 EDT Fri, 24 May 2013 13:39:33 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23885085 said by Kearnstd:

the US will never have a high speed rail that is proper unless it is elevated above or sunk below grade. and even then idiot kids will still get hit by trains going 200mph and mom will sue the company because you know trains are suppost to stop on a dime, and 20ft fences are not enough.

I agree, but full grade separation is very expensive. I've heard the cost of a grade separating a single intersection is in the tens of millions, and most complicated can push $100 million. Only the government can pay for that.

Concerning liability, I really think Congress needs to provide liability immunity except in cases of the rail operators fault.

I live a few miles from CalTrain, a commuter railroad on the SF Peninsula. On average there's a suicide and possibly another grade crossing accident every month, where some Darwin Award candidate decides they're better than crossing gates and heavy trains.

I suspect these idiots, or their families, sue (or settle) with the railroad over these incidents where the railroad is clearly not at fault. Trains only operate on rail tracks, they don't go anywhere willy nilly.

I've heard in Japan, to combat suicides and accidents at railroads; the rail operators will sue the person at fault (or their estate) for the damage caused. Maybe we should consider that here.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23885085 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:06:54 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23884532 said by Light Guy:

The least expensive Acela seat between NYC and Washington is $155 compared to $49 for the Northeast Regional service.
The Acela Express is an hour shorter and Business Class seating which would cost an extra $37 on the least expensive train. The least expensive rate between NYP (New York Penn station, the correct shorthand to use for Amtrak) and WAS (Washington DC) for Acela is usually $133, not $155. I took an Acela WAS-NYP last Thursday for the $133 rate. The Acela is about 35 to 45 minutes faster than the Regionals between WAS and NYP, not an hour, because of the limits of the NEC which needs a lot of bridge, track, and catenary replacement work.

The Acela may be more expensive and only modestly faster than the Regionals on the Northeast Corridor, but they are frequently sold out, so people are willing to pay for the Acelas.

Wish Amtrak had turned on the free WiFi last week but so it goes. It was announced months ago that Amtrak plans to add WiFi to the Regional trains on the NEC sometime in later 2010. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23884532 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:34:01 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23882576 said by Light Guy:

The least expensive Acela seat between NYC and Washington is $155 compared to $49 for the Northeast Regional service.
The Acela Express is an hour shorter and Business Class seating which would cost an extra $37 on the least expensive train.
That's crazy. It only cost me $17 one-way to go from Sacramento to Richmond, CA to transfer to the BART when I go to SFO or coming back. :o
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Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian. Robert Orben
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23882576 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:14:56 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23881605
the US will never have a high speed rail that is proper unless it is elevated above or sunk below grade. and even then idiot kids will still get hit by trains going 200mph and mom will sue the company because you know trains are suppost to stop on a dime, and 20ft fences are not enough.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Free-Not-Really-23881605 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:34:17 EDT http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Free-Not-Really-23880829 The Acela Express is an hour shorter and Business Class seating which would cost an extra $37 on the least expensive train.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Free-Not-Really-23880829 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:29:38 EDT