California Building 220 MPH High-Speed Train from San Francisco to LA
Imagine a high-speed rail line that could get you from San Francisco to LA in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
That dream appears to be coming true, thanks to work by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. After getting a green light by State environmental impact assessors, they’ve begun implementation of an 800-mile bullet-train system that will connect Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego. Trains traveling at 220 mph on the systems are forecast to carry up to 100 million passengers per year by 2030.
While 2030 is a long way off, at least things are moving in the right direction. Having a high-speed rail system connecting (eventually) the length of the West coast is a good idea for a number of reasons, including greenhouse-gas emissions reductions, improving public transportation and reducing congestion, and creating half a million new jobs. While our aging standby Amtrak is still around (believe it or not) and bearable for short distances, it’s more expensive and takes twice as much time to travel the same distance when compared to driving (non-California example: 15 hours from Portland, OR to San Francisco).
The State will have a bond measure of $9.95 billion on the November 2008 ballot, which requires a simple majority vote for approval. The measure allocates $9 billion for the high-speed rail system and $950 million for improvements to other rail services that connect to the high-speed service.
For more information, see the website of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
Posts Related to Green Transportation Technology:
- Affordable Electric Cars Coming to US in 2009
- 2009 Jetta BlueTDI Comes to US This Summer, Sports 60 MPG and Cleaner Emissions
- The Cleanest Cars on Earth: Honda Civic GX and Other Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)
This story was also reported at EcoLocalizer: A Train as Fast as a Plane: The Plan for High-Speed Rail in California Moves Forward
Photo Credit: NC3D, provided by the California High Speed Rail Authority
About time they started implamenting this. I would take a train in a heartbeat to LA if it were as quick as they claim it will be. I prefer trains. i dont have to deal with horrendous traffic and trying to avoid idiot drivers on the road. I also wouldnt have to deal with taking planes where you’re practicaly strip searched going through security. If I’m tired I can sleep, there’s more room for your legs to stretch then a plane provides, and there is a food car where you can actually dine. I take the trian all the time when I go back east.
If anyone says that Airlines are a better option they don’t know a thing about the industry.
Airlines lose money on commuter flights. They make money on a huge 747 packed with people going from NYC to LA. And with gas prices increasing American is now ENDING some of its commuter flights and is requiring a 1 night minimum in nearly all of its flights. No longer can the business person travel to a major meeting in SF and be back in LA for dinner. Unless you own a private jet, HSR will be your best bet.
And If we’re smart… there are enough HSR stops in growing locations that we will build up instead of sprawl out. Sprawl creates traffic and now matter how wide the freeways get, the more we sprawl the more lanes and freeways we will need.
when can i buy tickets?
The biggest need is between Las Vegas and LA and make it a car train. Use the old tracks with Pendolino tilting train technology. Vegas to LA by plane is a waste of airport search time. ..HG…
What type of fuels will power the stations providing the electricity. If’s it’s solar, wind or hydrolic power, that would be fantastic!!!
FINALLY!!!
The USA unfortunately behind the world in many areas. What USA built extraordinary for last 40 years? Just a Verrazano bridge - not much! The WTC re-building is a full disaster and frustration. Shame on american!
The high speed train is an example of real progress!!!
JUST DO IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!!! Time is clicking!!!
“Europe’s rail systems are amazing, and the United States system sucks balls. took me 24 hours to get from Cincinnati to Washington DC, it’s ridiculous”
24 hours for 425 miles? Are you kidding me?
The journey from Paris to Marseille takes just 3 hours and covers a distance of 783 km (489 miles) averaging a speed of 261 kph (163 mph).
The record from Lille to Marseille in 2001 was 3 hours and 29 minutes for 1067 km (663 miles).
Average speed: 305 kmh (190 mph) !!
3 Apr 2007 a new French train exceeded 357 mph and broke the speed record for conventional trains.
The commercial speed of the new French AVG train introduced several months ago is 360 kmph (224 mph)
If Californians wake up now, the rest of Americans will do the same after them.
However, the first HSR will be soon ready in Argentina, let’s say in 4-5 years with French TGV trains.
But let’s look at the bright side. Americans don’t have to develop technology. Others have already done it. Besides, French, Germans and Japaneses have a quite comprehensive experience with HSR.
Good luck with your Californian project but make no mistake. Try now to learn from others who have succeeded.
A nice idea but 220 mph by 2030 is really not that fast. This should be a maglev train which can compete with the speed of a plane.
I wish that they would put a maglev system on the east coast carridor because currently I can drive from Philadelphia to NYC or DC faster than the train and for much less (Amtrek what are you doing?)