tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post7643575225028219017..comments2023-10-30T09:03:07.163-07:00Comments on California High Speed Rail Blog: 2008 A Record Setting Year for RidershipRobert Cruickshankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-66827821138723182972008-11-11T20:22:00.000-08:002008-11-11T20:22:00.000-08:00@andre peretti:By the time the initial SF-LA segme...@andre peretti:<BR/><BR/>By the time the initial SF-LA segment gets built (around 2019), the AGV will be old technology. The authority would likely choose newer trains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-65126662833946656032008-11-11T19:29:00.000-08:002008-11-11T19:29:00.000-08:00@luis d.The colors and seating arrangements are de...@luis d.<BR/>The colors and seating arrangements are decided by the buyer, not the trainmaker. The AVE had to conquer its market so the ride had to be definitely superior to flying. The SNCF, on the contrary, can't meet the demand and tends to reduce seat spacing to sell more tickets.<BR/>I expect the Californian HST to be more like the AVE because it will also have to conquer its market.<BR/>Concerning trainsets, I think the safest choice would be the AVG, given the seismic nature of California. It does not jacknife in case of derailment, which is not the case for the ICE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-73973743546154331482008-11-11T19:16:00.000-08:002008-11-11T19:16:00.000-08:00That's a great movie, luis. I've put it on my blo...That's a great movie, luis. I've put it on my blog :)njhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15278712220761294549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-86463096328405437012008-11-11T18:32:00.000-08:002008-11-11T18:32:00.000-08:00hahaha I'm so excited for the History channel show...hahaha I'm so excited for the History channel shows!ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16497311093224486519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-80363803833626157782008-11-11T18:00:00.000-08:002008-11-11T18:00:00.000-08:00@luis d:I can't speak for the ICE, but I've ridden...@luis d:<BR/><BR/>I can't speak for the ICE, but I've ridden the 700 series Shinkansen on more than a few occasions, and they're VERY spacious and comfortable, even for me at my 6'1" height.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17237464626091579237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-65324618213449802472008-11-11T17:46:00.000-08:002008-11-11T17:46:00.000-08:00Since there has been a bit of dicussion about how ...Since there has been a bit of dicussion about how the $950m of bonds that are for use with HSR connecting transit systems will be allocated, you may be interested in <A HREF="http://www.spur.org/misc_docs/PRISM_Distribution_of_Prop_1A_950m.pdf" REL="nofollow">this document</A> found on SPUR's website. It shows a projection made back in 2002 of how those dollars might be allocated by transit system operator along with a little bit of the methodology that was used. <BR/><BR/>The numbers will most likely be updated, and maybe they'll even change the formula, I don't know, but this might be pretty close to how it will work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-41730402332717247902008-11-11T14:02:00.000-08:002008-11-11T14:02:00.000-08:00While looking at another story on the LATimes site...While looking at another story on <BR/>the LATimes site I just checked the election results on our prop again..its still growing!! it now has a 472,239 lead. And it shows SF County now has 260,298 YES votes<BR/>Gees!! and LA shows 1,431,690, Fresno is up to 112,393..nice!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-36310324439195312552008-11-11T12:34:00.000-08:002008-11-11T12:34:00.000-08:00Just wanted to let you all know that there's the n...Just wanted to let you all know that there's the new show on history channel called Extreme Trains at 10pm pac times. and after that the Modern Marvels are talking about Bullet Trains!<BR/><BR/>I am gonna enjoy this tonight! :)bossyman15https://www.blogger.com/profile/04434928402545599443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-30100636071328986272008-11-11T11:35:00.000-08:002008-11-11T11:35:00.000-08:00@ bossyman15I know, it looks very much like Califo...@ bossyman15<BR/><BR/>I know, it looks very much like California's landscape too.<BR/><BR/>To others I think Wifi is a no brainer and shouldn't be questioned if wether we should have it or not. WE SHOULD and probably will.luis d.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04825999683258862540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-84639918419134434822008-11-11T11:24:00.000-08:002008-11-11T11:24:00.000-08:00luis d.i like that video! its very relaxing to wat...luis d.<BR/>i like that video! <BR/>its very relaxing to watch the train cruising across the land at high speed.bossyman15https://www.blogger.com/profile/04434928402545599443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-33474768189807380672008-11-11T10:55:00.000-08:002008-11-11T10:55:00.000-08:00I agree with the wireless comment. I live in Bost...I agree with the wireless comment. I live in Boston and my brother and his wife live in Portland, ME. I constantly take the Downeaster roundtrip to visit them on the weekend sometimes. TrainRiders Northeast (a pro-train citizens org.) helped set up wirless service on the route this past summer; it's a great added bonus to the ride and helps promote train usage over driving and taking the bus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-26435364323337889582008-11-11T09:59:00.000-08:002008-11-11T09:59:00.000-08:00What is really unusual about public transit riders...What is really unusual about public transit ridership growth of late, including among other public transit systems (bus, light-rail, commuter rail) is that it is going up while employment is stagnant or declining. <BR/><BR/>Maybe the employment numbers are ahead of rider numbers at this very moment, but usually a decrease in employment means fewer people travelling at commute times. <BR/><BR/>Transit is among the last options for commuters and when travellers sense there is more roadway capacity they'll shift their habits to driving.<BR/><BR/>I don't like the thought of this, but since gas prices are coming down and there are fewer commuters, we could see transit ridership nose dive in the near future. I hope that is not the case, but that not happening may depend on commuters taking the long view and set their personal choices/preferences aside and consideer other factors... like doign their part to reduce dependance on foreign oil, help improve the nations security, or for environmental considerations.Brandon in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796810137823230737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-28712566150606006452008-11-11T09:54:00.000-08:002008-11-11T09:54:00.000-08:00I think the number one thing we could do to help r...I think the number one thing we could do to help retain riders on the existing lines would be to make sure they are all equipped with wireless internet. It seems a relatively small investment would be required. Is this on the horizon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-13034988585823858702008-11-11T09:29:00.000-08:002008-11-11T09:29:00.000-08:00I just hope the legislature in Sacramento figures ...I just hope the legislature in Sacramento figures out that increased investment in existing heavy rail passenger services also means high operating subsidies for them. Unlike HSR, their far box returns are well below 100%.<BR/><BR/>Prop 1B(2006) and prop 1A(2008) do not justify a cut in regular transit funding. It's high time California changed its constitution such that balanced budgets can be passed with simple majorities.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-82209874852668851302008-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:002008-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:00On a side note to my last comment on the colors of...On a side note to my last comment on the colors of the trains I think that we should be using the Siemens Velaro, ICE type of trains. I am sold after watching some video's on their trains. They look so comfortable and "spacy" as compared to the Japanese trains wich look like they crammed more seats in each car do to their high population and ridership. Watch this video from "renfe AVE".<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmbMYTJpAAMluis d.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04825999683258862540noreply@blogger.com