October 17, 2024Oct 17 I visited the Yucatan a year or so before this opened. I flew into Cancun and stayed in Merida (good decision btw, would recommend). I took a bus to get between the two. This train would have been fantastic! Given how slow and expensive large infrastructure is to build in much of the world I find the shortcuts they took to get this built quickly and efficiently sort of refreshing. Environmental review is important, it would be better if this went through city centers, they could have fully electrified the whole line, etc. But this line is already open and carrying passengers, in contrast, CAHSR still has segments that haven't received environmental approval yet...
October 18, 2024Oct 18 They played Russian roulette with this rail line though. They didn't check to see where the cenotes are below the surface. And while our military could take on rail projects, they still have to follow NEPA laws which requires our lengthy federal permitting process. Meanwhile, we now turn to Switzerland for a different reminder of how backward America is..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 18, 2024Oct 18 While I get the point, Lucerne is a huge tourist destination and not really fair. St. Gallen is a more fitting example of a "normal" city in Switzerland around the same size as Lucerne. It's still no slouch, though. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 18, 2024Oct 18 11 hours ago, ColDayMan said: While I get the point, Lucerne is a huge tourist destination and not really fair. St. Gallen is a more fitting example of a "normal" city in Switzerland around the same size as Lucerne. It's still no slouch, though. Ya St Gallen is one of the cities Cleveland needs to look at for inspiration. 3 of their regional trains turn into streetcars/trams through the city center. Just like the blue/green lines should with the WFL loop. Those regional trains also mostly run on single tracked line with either 15 or 30 minute frequency.
October 18, 2024Oct 18 11 hours ago, ColDayMan said: While I get the point, Lucerne is a huge tourist destination and not really fair. St. Gallen is a more fitting example of a "normal" city in Switzerland around the same size as Lucerne. It's still no slouch, though. So, Sandusky? 😉 Credit Tom Horsman "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 18, 2024Oct 18 21 minutes ago, KJP said: So, Sandusky? 😉 Credit Tom Horsman Worn out train, worn out station, middle of the night "service" in a transportation desert. We can and should do better than this.
October 29, 2024Oct 29 From an article originally posted in the Canada Rail thread about a new high speed rail project, I thought this quote was pretty humbling for the U.S. of A. Quote Countries with economies less developed than Canada's already have high-speed trains. Turkey has the YHT and Poland the PKP, which can reach speeds of 250 km/h. Morocco's Al Boraq peaks at 320 km/h. Indonesia has just inaugurated the Whoosh, which goes up to 350 km/h. Brazil has a high-speed rail project underway and India is importing the Japanese Shinkansen model. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/high-speed-rail-canada-1.7365835 Turkey. Poland. Morrocco. Brazil. India. But not the U.S.?!?
October 30, 2024Oct 30 250 kph is 155 mph. Acela does 150 and the new Acela will do 160 in three sections of the Northeast Corridor (Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island/Connecticut) plus longer sections of 135 mph. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 30, 2024Oct 30 On 10/1/2024 at 3:51 PM, Cleburger said: Took it roundtrip Tokyo Osaka in August. Still a fantastic mode of transport. Between Germany and Japan (both defeated nations that we helped rebuilid), we could learn a thing or two about rail transport. In Japan's case, the demilitarization after defeat meant all the wartime engineering knowledge was turned inward - in large part toward train technology. Japan has been investing big yen in trains for many decades, the US will likely never catch up. It's important remember that many of Japan's shinkansen lines were fiercely opposed by residents affected by the trains, much like Japan's newer airports. There were years and years of remediation for people living under the tracks, not unlike the billions of yen paid to farmers and fishermen when land was taken for new airports.
December 1, 2024Dec 1 But the USA can't afford high-speed rail. The two cities are farther apart than Chicago is from New York City (1,000 miles).... Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-high-speed-train-102fcade1e996d34cb46133e21502649 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 1, 2024Dec 1 49 minutes ago, KJP said: But the USA can't afford high-speed rail. The two cities are farther apart than Chicago is from New York City (1,000 miles).... Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-high-speed-train-102fcade1e996d34cb46133e21502649 While they are spreading the cost over 12 years, it is easier for a small one party rule communist country to direct its funds and even easier with help from us via the 3rd highest annual trade surplus with U.S. after China and Mexico.
December 1, 2024Dec 1 1 hour ago, KJP said: But the USA can't afford high-speed rail. The two cities are farther apart than Chicago is from New York City (1,000 miles).... Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-high-speed-train-102fcade1e996d34cb46133e21502649 Part of the problem is that with current realities, there's no way an equivalent project (NYC to CHI) would only cost $67 billion. Based on current trends with CAHSR I'd say the optimistic guess is 3-4 times that amount. But I wouldn't be surprised if it would end up being 6-10 times that amount. If we could actually build a true HSR line from NYC to CHI on time and on budget for $67 billion, it would be a lot easier to make the case for an equivalent project. Obviously there'd still be opposition, but it would be much smaller. Unfortunately, we're hamstrung by our inability to build large infrastructure projects anymore. It's less we can't afford it, and more we seem to be unable to build for anything near what peer countries (such as Spain) would pay.
December 2, 2024Dec 2 We chose our inability. We are not victims of anything but ourselves. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 7, 2024Dec 7 On 12/2/2024 at 7:52 AM, KJP said: We chose our inability. We are not victims of anything but ourselves. Agreed. I was thinking of visiting the town of my late aunt sometime in the distant future and checked to see train availability. I don't even need to think about it - just show up at the HBH and hop on the next train. I have 69 daily trains to choose from. Munich is about 2.5 million and Regensburg's population is 150K and yet there are 69 daily trains to chose from.... US rail is just pathetic.
December 7, 2024Dec 7 Yes, there's three levels of service on every main line in Germany. There's the S-bahn which is like a 25-50 mile rapid transit train that makes all stops. Then there's the 75-100 mile regional trains that stop in each town and link up the S-bahns. Then there's the intercity expresses which travel 150-500 miles and stop only in the largest cities and link up the regionals. We traveled throughout Germany in 2022 on a cheap one-month pass using mostly regional trains but some S-bahns to get to/from airports or from regional trains to the small town where my brother-in-law lived at the time. With the DB rail pass, Google maps and the very frequent, easy-to-use rail service hierarchy, we didn't need a timetable to get around. We sure as h311 didn't need a car. We seldom needed a taxi or even a bus (the DB pass worked on the bus, too, BTW). "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 7, 2024Dec 7 10 hours ago, KJP said: Yes, there's three levels of service on every main line in Germany. There's the S-bahn which is like a 25-50 mile rapid transit train that makes all stops. Then there's the 75-100 mile regional trains that stop in each town and link up the S-bahns. Then there's the intercity expresses which travel 150-500 miles and stop only in the largest cities and link up the regionals. We traveled throughout Germany in 2023 on a cheap one-month pass using mostly regional trains but some S-bahns to get to/from airports or from regional trains to the small town where my brother-in-law lived at the time. With the DB rail pass, Google maps and the very frequent, easy-to-use rail service hierarchy, we didn't need a timetable to get around. We sure as h311 didn't need a car. We seldom needed a taxi or even a bus (the DB pass worked on the bus, too, BTW). St. KJP sayeth: BEHOLD! I have seen the promised land!
December 8, 2024Dec 8 This is the kind of thing you get when a state-owned railway in a country that actually invests in passenger rail actively works to lure passengers. Festive Christmas trains operating by LTG Link (Lithuania State Railway) operating through January 9th. (Sidenote: here in the U.S. stores start pushing Valentine's Day on about December 27th as you'll see them changing their displays about then. God forbid we slow down and let the enjoyment of one holiday linger a bit before moving onto the next one). https://ltglink.lt/en/christmas-trains
December 9, 2024Dec 9 At the rate things are going we will be very lucky to hang on to what we have now. Edited December 9, 2024Dec 9 by neony
December 10, 2024Dec 10 This is the type of train equipment Dreamstar is considering.... DEC 10 2024 PRESS RELEASE 14 Brand-New Trains Will Enable Long-Distance Open Access Growth ▶ The independent rail operator FirstGroup has signed a lease agreement with the rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains and the manufacturer Hitachi, for the lease of 14 brand-new long-distance Open Access trains, with an option for 13 more. ▶ At a cost of £500 million (approx. $638 million), the trains will be manufactured by Hitachi in North-East England, securing jobs in that region. ▶ FirstGroup will deploy them on its future services between Wales and London, as well as on its existing Open Access services that have contributed significantly to achieve modal shift to rail. Last Friday, the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer celebrated this new deal by visiting the Hitachi factory that is tasked with manufacturing these new Open Access trains, thereby securing jobs and the factory’s future. The deal was completed in under three months. This showcases both the agility that the private sector brings to European rail and the pivotal role of private capital in financing new trains. After all, Open Access rail operators rely solely upon private investment and assume full commercial risk. We have already witnessed how FirstGroup's existing Open Access services (under the “Lumo” brand) have helped drive modal shift to rail between Scotland and London. In the future, other parts of the UK will also benefit from Open Access: securing and creating jobs, increasing seat supply on core routes, and driving modal shift away from carbon-intensive travel. ALLRAIL’s Secretary General Nick Brooks says: “This example is a role model. Political stakeholders must now create the market conditions to make Open Access the default for long-distance passenger rail in Europe!" https://b5cch.r.sp1-brevo.net/mk/mr/sh/1t6AVsd2XFnIGGrMhrOpXxYqPo55Hi/LOcEcNdbF64y "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 12, 2024Dec 12 the ghan is a bucket list trip through the outback from darwin down to adelaide, even for aussies — By Jon Jensen, CNN 8 minute read Published 11:11 PM EST, Wed December 11, 2024 Alice Springs, AustraliaCNN — The Australian outback is one of the wildest places on Earth. A vast void of deserts and semi-arid wilderness, it stretches across about 80% of the country’s interior — an area roughly equivalent to seven times the size of Texas. more: https://www.cnn.com/travel/australia-luxury-train-ghan-outback-hnk-intl/index.html
December 12, 2024Dec 12 I was following this new line on Google Earth. Fascinating what Mexico is doing... Mexican president to open final segment of Maya Train https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/mexican-president-to-open-final-segment-of-maya-train/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 13, 2024Dec 13 ya’ll would have reacted the same way — 😂🎅 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDTLRTfRdHu/?igsh=Zm1yMnN0ODdweDlw
December 15, 2024Dec 15 "This is the beauty of Swiss trains — not only are they reliable, they are also frequent, and for the traveller [sic] that equates to freedom. " https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/switzerland/this-is-the-best-country-in-the-world-for-rail-travel-9q9rj6797
January 14Jan 14 GLOBAL UKRAINE RAIL TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE New Year, New Delivery : Protective Gear for Ukrainian Railway Workers Ukrainian Railways staff wearing the new protective equipment Unfortunately, Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine now continues into its 4th calendar year. Already this month, the Trade Union of Railway and Transport Builders of Ukraine has delivered further vital protective equipment to frontline railway workers. There have now been over 100 kits provided. The latest shipment includes bulletproof vests, helmets, and tactical goggles, distributed to the employees of Ukrzaliznytsia (i.e. Ukrainian Railways) in the frontline areas of Kramatorsk, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. This new batch was thanks to financial support from donations, from the non-profit association Rail Partners and others, and enabled by our official charity partner WE AID. But more protective gear is urgently needed (!) So far, we have only provided a fraction of what is necessary. Therefore, please continue to donate - in order to ensure the safety of our colleagues in Ukraine. Please donate at the link below. All major payment cards and many currencies are accepted : https://www.we-aid.org/en/initiatives-2/allrail-support-ukraine-rail-task-force/ Published by Global Ukraine Rail Task Force: c/o ALLRAIL npo (non-profit organization) Rue Washington/Washingtonstraat 40, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. Tel : +32 479 07 08 06 Registration number: 0675.784.944 Publication in the Belgian Official Gazette on 27 May 2017 Chair: Jolene Molitoris - [email protected] Co-Chair: Nick Brooks - [email protected] Note that Jolene Molitoris is a former director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, a former head of the Federal Railroad Administration under President Clinton and was a Deputy Director of ODOT's Rail Division in the 1980s. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 14Feb 14 Passenger rail line to AIFA airport to open in July https://mexiconewsdaily.com/travel/passenger-train-aifa-airport-open-july/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 26Feb 26 he waited for it — and he got it — four el trains pass in tokyo — 🎉 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGc4y6mTGE6/?igsh=YWszdmNqOHNlbHpm
February 27Feb 27 15 hours ago, mrnyc said: he waited for it — and he got it — four el trains pass in tokyo — 🎉 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGc4y6mTGE6/?igsh=YWszdmNqOHNlbHpm I want a model railroad layout like that. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 1Mar 1 hangzhou east railway station — 🙀 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE9LaqvyJ4J/?igsh=ZnlraXMzazAwZDNu
March 1Mar 1 36 minutes ago, mrnyc said: hangzhou east railway station — 🙀 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE9LaqvyJ4J/?igsh=ZnlraXMzazAwZDNu Holiday weekend?? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 1Mar 1 2 minutes ago, KJP said: Holiday weekend?? yes, i think it says first travel day of spring festival break —
March 24Mar 24 https://b5cch.r.sp1-brevo.net/mk/cl/f/sh/1t6Af4OiGsDg0hDil3vMnMR8IDBqyc/-B-Wgoc-If8G Innovative new Channel Tunnel challenger announced FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday 24 March 2025 Gemini, an exciting new train operating company is being established to offer competitive fares and high-quality, frequent train services between the UK and continental Europe. Chaired by industry veteran Lord Tony Berkeley, Gemini services will run initially between London and Paris/Brussels – with further exciting destinations currently being developed. With plans for brand new cutting-edge trains and a fresh approach to sales and ticketing, Gemini has attracted a highly experienced team of rail executives and creative thinkers who are committed to bringing independently run ‘Open Access’ services to compete on cross channel routes for the benefit of international passengers. The EU is encouraging new independent commercial ‘Open Access’ operators who are free of government control. Across the continent, including in France, Italy, Spain and the UK, Open Access operators have created shift from road and air to rail, improving choice and value for the customer. With significant passenger growth forecast, the Channel tunnel route is ideally suited to ‘Open Access’ competition. Over the last 2 years the Gemini team has been working hard to mobilise these services. The team includes experts in business, finance, operations, ticketing, policy and regulation as well as very senior expertise in French and European rail markets. This collective knowledge positions Gemini uniquely to navigate the complex requirements of a new cross-border operation while also creating innovative customer offerings. Gemini has been engaging extensively with industry stakeholders from various European countries including infrastructure managers, station operators, train companies including Eurostar, plus the various governments and regulators. Gemini has applied to the Office of Rail and Road for access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills International maintenance depot. Gemini is also in discussion with key stakeholders around other train maintenance facilities. Chair Lord Berkeley said: “Our team has real strength, depth, vision and dynamism and is superbly placed to offer customers choice on what is currently a monopoly route”. CEO Adrian Quine said: "The high-speed line connecting London and the continent through the Channel Tunnel is one of the great rail routes. With a whole new generation now choosing trains over planes, there is a great opportunity to bring real entrepreneurial flair and dynamism with competitive fares to Europe's premier route". Gemini Trains website: www.geminitrains.com Email: [email protected] Adrian Quine (UK): [email protected] Francis Nakache (France): [email protected] Gemini Trains is the trading name of Gemini TOC Ltd, registered in England with company number 14 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 23Apr 23 the groovy restored 1960s arlecchino — https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIrFqULuISU/?igsh=MTY5YXdsbWY4NTJ6cA==
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