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a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Where is that definition from?
On Wiki it says:
"Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production, as well as the political theories and movements associated with them."
There is no socialism without the social ownership part.
It's funny somehow because a big chunk of the US is boringly flat. One could use the fastest rail technology available to cross it, it would not be much slower than planes. The fastest trains so far go about 370 mph.
I am happy we still have that train spirit over here. Train stations are often hot spots of cities, right in the center of cities, unlike airports.
Maybe that's one reason why many US cities feel so strange to Europeans. Few trains and train stations, few pedestrians, few relevant stores downtown... Where the heck is life hiding?
Yes, you do have plenty of vast open "flat" spaces; but they also are largely uninhabited. To wit as stated previously not enough population density to justify even "whistle stop" train service.
One thing people do not know or seem to forget is railroads are taxed (often heavily) on every piece of their ROW/infrastructure. That is were planes have an advantage as airlines aren't taxed on their flight paths.
One reason railroads began tearing up tracks (streamlining four tracks down to two or one), if not totally abandoning lines all together was the often heavy property taxes local areas imposed. New Jersey for instance (home to many railroads back in the day) did not get a state income tax until 1972.
It's funny somehow because a big chunk of the US is boringly flat. One could use the fastest rail technology available to cross it, it would not be much slower than planes. The fastest trains so far go about 370 mph.
Let's start with correct facts. The fastest train in the world goes 250 mph, not 370 mph and there is only one that goes that fast.
Then when you add in stops at every city, the average speed would probably be closer to 180 mph or less. So the trip from NYC to LA would take more than 14 hours. A plane makes it in about 5 hours.
Where is that definition from?
On Wiki it says:
"Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production, as well as the political theories and movements associated with them."
There is no socialism without the social ownership part.
Let's start with correct facts. The fastest train in the world goes 250 mph, not 370 mph and there is only one that goes that fast.
Then when you add in stops at every city, the average speed would probably be closer to 180 mph or less. So the trip from NYC to LA would take more than 14 hours. A plane makes it in about 5 hours.
As the Chinese are competing with the Japanese, the record will surely tumble within just a few years. Even up to 350 mph in everyday life would be really impressive as the shuttle time to and from the airport as well as check-in and safety checks in would be obsolete.
From coast to coast, flying would still be faster of course, but I think most people don't go that far, anyway.
It's funny somehow because a big chunk of the US is boringly flat. One could use the fastest rail technology available to cross it, it would not be much slower than planes. The fastest trains so far go about 370 mph.
I am happy we still have that train spirit over here. Train stations are often hot spots of cities, right in the center of cities, unlike airports.
Maybe that's one reason why many US cities feel so strange to Europeans. Few trains and train stations, few pedestrians, few relevant stores downtown... Where the heck is life hiding?
A few more points:
First and foremost there has *never* been one train or RR that went across the nation. Getting from say Boston or New York to California required one or more changes of train. Even then many RR's had to negotiate tracking rights to run over another RRs ROW.
Amtrak is no different in that regard; outside the NEC much of the tracks they run on are owned by other railroads (mostly freight). When push comes to shove those RRs put their trains first.
Next true HSR can only run on a dedicated ROW. It would costs hundreds of billions or maybe even near a trillion USD to build such a thing for very little benefit. Which is why no private RR or even investors would bother.
Related to above is fact diesel locomotives (prime mover of trains in the USA) top out at about 125mph. To get true HSR speeds (>150mph to or over 200mph) you need electric powered locomotives. Hence the high cost for creating HSR and no one is going to bother stringing hundreds of miles of wires across prairies, deserts, mountains, and so forth to create a nationwide HSR network. For one thing it just wouldn't make sense on many fronts.
Electric power for locomotives only makes sense where you have frequency of service. Hence the NEC, and most subway train service.
Wouldn't it be possible to use fuel cell-powered trains? They could use two separate cars for oxygen and hydrogen for safety reasons, one close to the front and one close to the end of the train.
Wouldn't it be possible to use fuel cell-powered trains? They could use two separate cars for oxygen and hydrogen for safety reasons, one close to the front and one close to the end of the train.
Anything is *possible*, and fuel cell powered locomotives are already out there; well sort of:
Bringing this all home rail in the United States is probably fifty or so years behind Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. You'd think RR's were still running huge and heavy steam locomotives from the various crash worthy and other regulations/rules/laws.
That is the main problem with bringing any European or whatever rail technology to the USA. Amtrak's "Acela" HSR trains are much heavier than their European cousins, so much so they can barely get out of their own way. *LOL*
This is because laws in the USA demand rail locomotives/cars be designed for passenger/crew safety in crashes by structural integrity. This translates into heavy built locomotives and cars designed to withstand certain level of forces.
As you may or may not have been aware from recent rail accidents in USA, we are no where near 100% on this with both passenger and freight railroads having dragged their feet, wailed, moaned and otherwise protested.
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