Bush 2006 proposed budget plans to end Amtrak subsidies

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Sea Skimmer
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Post by Sea Skimmer »

AMX wrote: Actually, it's double-track.
Is it? I've seen video of the thing going and the track looked single to me. But anyway, it's still a very expensive length of railway.
Ma Deuce wrote:
Btw, does the USA have a highspeed-train?
Not unless you count the Acela Express that runs the Northeast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston, and the Acela never runs at speeds greater than +/-200kph anyway, (usually less due to the limits of the tracks), even though it's designed to operate at speeds up to 265kph.
Which his very unfortunate, since a number of existing Amtrack locomotives can already reach 200kph with a train behind them. Though Acela does have an advantage in acceleration, which is very useful since it must so often slow down for differing track conditions and turns.
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Col. Crackpot
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Post by Col. Crackpot »

Sea Skimmer wrote:
AMX wrote: Actually, it's double-track.
Is it? I've seen video of the thing going and the track looked single to me. But anyway, it's still a very expensive length of railway.
Ma Deuce wrote:
Btw, does the USA have a highspeed-train?
Not unless you count the Acela Express that runs the Northeast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston, and the Acela never runs at speeds greater than +/-200kph anyway, (usually less due to the limits of the tracks), even though it's designed to operate at speeds up to 265kph.
Which his very unfortunate, since a number of existing Amtrack locomotives can already reach 200kph with a train behind them. Though Acela does have an advantage in acceleration, which is very useful since it must so often slow down for differing track conditions and turns.
i've seen the Acela in various places through our RI, CT and MA, and i've never seen it moving faster than 75-80 mph
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LadyTevar
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Post by LadyTevar »

The bad part? If Amtrak loses governmental funding, it will finally close the Charleston WV Depot. Sen Byrd long ago made a little rider that said as long as Amtrak accepts govt. money, that depot *must* stay open. Amtrak's been pissy about it ever since.
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AMX
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Post by AMX »

Sea Skimmer wrote:
AMX wrote: Actually, it's double-track.
Is it? I've seen video of the thing going and the track looked single to me.
Oh yes, it is.
But anyway, it's still a very expensive length of railway.
Admittedly.
But it's fast, and has low(-ish) operating costs, due to a distinct lack of moving parts.
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MKSheppard
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Post by MKSheppard »

SirNitram wrote:The sensible thing to do would be to restore the track, but it's privately owned, and vital infrastructure in private hands is sacrosanct. :roll:

If someone actually got the railways maintained, it'd be cheaper for long hauls. But not the shitty collection of rail we have now.
The Rails ARE maintained. Unlike in Nitram Fantasy world (TM), CSX et al do not see the need to constantly replace trackage. Track lasts for about a decade or so on non mainlines before it needs to be replaced.
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MKSheppard
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Post by MKSheppard »

LadyTevar wrote:The bad part? If Amtrak loses governmental funding, it will finally close the Charleston WV Depot. Sen Byrd long ago made a little rider that said as long as Amtrak accepts govt. money, that depot *must* stay open. Amtrak's been pissy about it ever since.
Boo hoo hoo.
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frigidmagi
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Post by frigidmagi »

Maintance is not just replacing the track Shep and what I saw on the California lines are any clue, some of those lines are not maintained.
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