Originally Posted By mousermerf Good article explaining why the Tampa/Orlando route was chosen: <a href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1957575,00.html?xid=rss-topstories" target="_blank">http://www.time.com/time/healt...pstories</a>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Except that's a fictional TV show> The Simpsons is fictional? really?
Originally Posted By mousermerf And tidbits I dug up.. 16 RT's between the Tampa and Orlando terminating points per day, max speed just under 170mph as it is currently planned. It of course depends on the exact schedule (total trip is to be less then an hour) but that essentially means 2 trains to run every hour on the hour for 6am to 10pm service in both directions.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 Interesting article but I still dont believe that you will see the ridership needed to make this thing financially worth the billions spent. The I-4 corridor is mostly used by business and commuters and tourists going to other places in Florida. Not to mention that taking the train from Tampa to Orlando is nothing like taking the train from London to Paris.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Not to mention that taking the train from Tampa to Orlando is nothing like taking the train from London to Paris. << That's the key.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> The president chose to announce the funding in Tampa because it's the most advanced/planned/build ready bid they got from all of the various applications. << And here I thought he announced it in Tampa because Florida's an important state to him politically!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***max speed just under 170mph as it is currently planned*** That's an impressive maximum speed, to be sure (heck, the Japanese trains only go 186 or so Max), but the more important point is AVERAGE speed. The Acela on the East Coast has a "top speed" of 150mph, which is decent obviously, but I recently learned that the average speed is under 80mph. Hardly anything to write home about. Just sayin. The important point is, will they do this job right. The trains need to AVERAGE a decent speed and zip people from point to point easily and quickly, like they do in many other countries. I sure do look forward to the day I can travel up the coast from L.A. to San Francisco in 3 hours or less...that'll be the day I NEVER chose a flight over a nice train ride! And, when I can cruise from Orlando to Miami in an hour and a half, I'll be on that train too. But (and EVERYONE is missing this point) the important thing is, will the trains be punctual enough to rely on AND, will the business travelers get onboard. That's the whole point. It doesn't matter if vacation travelers like me like it. It matters if "so-and-so corporation" decides to designate it for their travel plans. America has a long way to go, but I'm optimistic!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And here I thought he announced it in Tampa because Florida's an important state to him politically!*** The President of the United States isn't concerned with re-election issues 3 years before election, but nice try. The President will win re-election with or without Florida in any case, if he feels like running (I've got a feeling he won't run again, at this point...he'll probably save his second term for the NEXT time America needs to be saved ).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> I'm much more interested in the 3 hour train ride from L.A. to SF, but in a case like that I'd have to say that it would depend on price, since a flight is probably comparable time wise (maybe a LITTLE faster, but probably more subject to delays IF the train is halfway decent).<<< Maybe not. Here we can go to Paris in 2.5 hours from London to Paris with a 30min check in period - 3 hours total then, compared to parking at the airport, waiting for a bus, checking luggage and check in an hour before take off, load the plane, hour in the air, wait for luggage, passports and customs (this is done on the train) and then the travel from the airport to the city. It is much quicker to use a train. I would imagine this to be the case with high speed rail in California too. Prettier scenery and more environmentally responsible. These train fares sound reasonable. Given my train pass is $180 a week at the mo, they are in line with other systems. But we are paying $2 a litre for diesel right now, so it is still the cheaper option.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>By the time the bureaucrats get through with it, I am positive this system will be way over budget, be way over priced, and be way under utilized. It never fails. I would love to know what the projected use figures, and projected revenue figures are, compared to what they actually turn out being. I love rail transportation. It however has a high initial cost, a high cost of maintenance, a low return on revenues. It's prone to requiring a subsidy to continue operations, and proven inefficient here in the States.<<< With that attitude, it is a wonder NASA ever existed.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Not to mention that taking the train from Tampa to Orlando is nothing like taking the train from London to Paris.<<< The big difference is I like London and PAris ;-) In all seriousness though, they built a tunnel under the sea for the trains here. And yet people are quibling about a small expenditure on the start of a network? You do know how much money is wasted every day in Afganastan don't you?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***passports and customs (this is done on the train)*** That's a huge plus with international travel (and something to consider for America/Canada runs!), but does that mean you must have your luggage with you at all times (no checked bags)? Just curious.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***You do know how much money is wasted every day in Afganastan don't you?*** "Kindly avoid touching the third rail on your way out of the train. Thank you, and have a nice day!"
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo WEll most carry their own luggage, but there are services in Japan where you can check luggage if you wish. Only the Japanese tourists seem to make much use of the service though because it slows things down. The DLP train has a nice service though. You check in to your hotel in London, being given your key cards, passports and paperwork, and you hand in your luggage. When you arrive at DLP you can go straight to the parks. Your luggage is taken to the hotel (kind of like WDW's magical express, but much faster). The cheap hotels, you collect your luggage when you get to the hotel. The nicer hotels - Disneyland Hotel, Hotel New York and the Admiral's Floor of the Newport Bay Club, the luggage is taken to your room. When you check out in the morning, you have bell services collect your luggage in the room at the nicer hotels, the cheaper ones you take it to the baggage check of the hotel. You go to the parks, and then that evening before getting on the train, you collect your luggage on the platform.
Originally Posted By Mr X How does that work for incoming customs though? Do they just riffle through your bags without your presence (if they want to)? And what if they find something incriminating (or claim to have found something)? That seems kinda scary to me!
Originally Posted By Mr X Obviously Japan is a different story since there's no immigration or customs checks. I'm just curious about how that works...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo WEll it is dead easy, you put your bags through the X ray when you check in the bags - that's customs. If carrying luggage, you stick your bags on the x ray conveyor, they go through as you put your ticket in the DL style turnstyle, walk through and pick them up, quick and easy. And they do passport control while you are sat on the train.
Originally Posted By Mr X Ah...so customs on the DEPARTURE side. Now I get it. Yes, that is much, MUCH easier and now I understand what you're explaining. Thanks. That does sound quick and easy!
