Originally Posted By Mr X I really wish all international gateways were set up that way (with customs and immigration being taken care of on DEPARTURE, or enroute, rather than on arrival. It's such a crappy system...when you arrive you are tired and just want to get off the plane (or train) and find your ground transportation...and yet you have a mountain of hassle to get through. If only they actually cared about that stuff...OBVIOUSLY it would be better to get that over with on your way OUT...duh!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is. What I love as I pass Eurostar each day is the people from all of the globe coming into my station. And all the school trips from Europe to London getting a very different perspective with ease. What is rediculous is it can be quicker to get from London to Paris (340 miles including 24 under the sea) then it can be to drive from Burbank to San Diego.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed, though there is a big difference. France, Belgium and the UK have a shared security arrangement. Airports of course cover more countries. Plus terrorist activity on a plane has a bigger impact then on rail. Although you can transfer trains in Paris and Brussels to go on to Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland etc., because they are all the same land mass, we just have that one set of customs. Within the EU, there are no border controls between countries. It is a stupid expense. It would be like if they removed the borders between Canada, the US and Mexico, though that would never happen. Especially when even there are agricultural checks in the US for state borders. And people want to talk about a waste of public funds?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***It would be like if they removed the borders between Canada, the US and Mexico, though that would never happen. Especially when even there are agricultural checks in the US for state borders. And people want to talk about a waste of public funds?*** No doubt. They SHOULD'VE removed the borders with Canada decades ago, but instead thanks to Bush they've tightened them up considerably. So now you need a passport to travel there where a passport was NEVER needed before (as though terrorists can't cross the border without one...DUH...try walking, it ain't difficult!). *sigh*
Originally Posted By MPierce >>>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. << That's not an attitude Dave. Those are just facts. If I misstated anything about train transportation in the USA please feel free to correct me.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> You do know how much money is wasted every day in Afganastan don't you? << You consider fighting international terrorism a waste of money?
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I am with MPierce on this. I also love rail transportation and LOVE Eurostar. I have taken it several times. My issues isnt even HSR in the USA. I think it is a great idea. I just dont think this particular plan is great. It is going to be costly, it will never acheive a good ridership number and may ultimately derail any future hope for HSR in the country if it fails.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It is going to be costly, it will never acheive a good ridership number and may ultimately derail any future hope for HSR in the country if it fails. << That is why it is imperative to chose The cities wisely when you initiate this plan. They need a design, a location, and a team in place that will guarantee success. As you said failure will derail any future hope of HSR or at least set it's plan back a decade.
Originally Posted By leobloom ***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 )<< Although I made my comment in jest and would characterize myself as an Obama supporter, I also realize there is a Florida Senate seat up for election in November, and Obama would obviously like to see that seat go to a Democrat. Suffice it to say, the President doesn't make political appearances that aren't calculated. And I still think HSR in Central Florida is going to be an up-hill battle.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>You consider fighting international terrorism a waste of money?<<< YEs, as my professor of Strategic Studies (ex UN, ex MI5, and the top of his field) used to say back in the early 90's, a war on terror is a fool's game, it can never be won. That is the point.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo True though, the idea of putting one in Florida does seem silly compared to the West and North East coast, there is very little work and revenue outside of the service industry, then again, this could change that.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***>> You do know how much money is wasted every day in Afganastan don't you? << You consider fighting international terrorism a waste of money?*** By using an army? DEFINITELY. International terrorism is a crime. It should be fought by the police, in an international effort. What YOU are suggesting is that it should be dealt with by spending trillions invading countries (while the terrorists simply switch locations in the meantime). So yeah, a waste of money (and lives) it most certainly is!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***a war on terror is a fool's game, it can never be won. That is the point.*** That most certainly IS the point, it will never be won, and it serves as a means to continue the business of war profiteering indefinitely. A side benefit is to keep an entire population in a state of perpetual fear and dread (oh do I remember those cold war days!), so they'll vote for you from time to time. Hardly a fool's game though, if your goal is perpetual "war" without end. Someone refresh my memory, are we allies with EastAsia now and fighting Eurasia, or is it vice-versa? And why is Goldstein er, sorry, Bin Ladin still at large!!!!???? It's so accurate it's disgusting. Double-plus disgusting!
Originally Posted By mousermerf Ok.. back off the crazy for a little bit.. Disney has given a plot of land just south of Pop Century, between Osceola pkwy and 192. Will they design/build their own station - yes or no?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I see no crazy, oh ya, other than the stupid beltway/Flamingo Crossing development.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I see no crazy*** Nor I. Some just don't seem to care for forthright discourse. But anyway... ***other than the stupid beltway/Flamingo Crossing development*** What's this? ***Disney has given a plot of land just south of Pop Century, between Osceola pkwy and 192. Will they design/build their own station - yes or no?*** Considering that it's "on property" space they have "donated", I would venture to guess that they will have a hand in the design of the station (probably insisted upon it). If they're SMART, they'll take this as a sort of new beginning to start making things right with transportation around "the World", beginning with a brand new monorail "hub" ("arrival center" as a counterpoint to the TTC or something like that)... But I'm not holding my breath. *sigh*
Originally Posted By mousermerf Couple of thoughts.. Do you suppose it's coincidence that preliminary concept drawings of the HSR trains look like WDW monorails with the color stripe and leer-jet nose? What ought a modern WDW HSR station look like?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I would assume that Disney would design their own station. My initial reaction was that it would probably be a lot like the MTR station for HKDL. It has old world charm mixed with modern technology and design to make it actually function. The first view you get when the train pulls into the station is pretty spectacular, especially considering it's just a glorified flight of stairs. Pretty much everything about the station works really well for me, with the exception of the sorcerer's hats worked into the columns. If they could make something that classy in WDW, I would be a fan of it! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonherr/82444467/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/j...2444467/</a>
Originally Posted By irishfan ^^ I agree, I was at HKDL just last week and it was my first time arriving at the resort via train and the station really is quite beautiful.
