High speed rail between Eugene and Vancouver, BC ... would you take it?

As someone who travels for work between Portland and Seattle, the potential intrigues me. I'm always stuck with the dilemma of flying (shortest travel time, but potential for delays, airport hassles), taking the train (can work during transit, relaxing, but most time-consuming and also prone to delays), and driving (most control, can stop when and where you want, but potential for traffic headaches and also the most mentally-taxing method).

I'd probably take it. Although this would probably be a pretty substantial project, and who knows where I'll be working or living by the time it even became a reality.

Link here: http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/25/daily29.html?ed=2009-05-29&ana=e_du_pub

-Pop

 

Its a neccessity. Amtrak is way too slow for serious use. much easier....they should connect all the cities on the west coast this way.

 

This. I am hoping that the development of high speed routes on the west coat would cut down on the traffic.

 

they were blasting a subway last time I was there for the olympics.

 

god, you hear about the 4 different types of IDs for canada and mexico travel now? so lame. we need a national ID card or soemthing just to simplify it all.

 

Here's the map of proposed high speed rail lines in the US:



First thing that comes to mind ... Little Rock? Really? Of course people back east are probably thinking "Eugene? Really?"

Surprised to not see a line from Denver, south or east to some other population centers. A whole lot of flat nothingness east and south from Denver. Would seem like a no-brainer from an ease-of-construction perspective. Plus Denver is a hub city for a lot of travelers.

-Pop

 

the bottom right corner says it all - Federal Railroad Administration, October 2005.

Basically, there's a better chance that the Blazers land LeBron in free agency than these actually being built. For whatever reason, functioning, timely railroads and America don't mix.

 

It would be pretty cool for the regional economy for sure. I would love to be able to take my family on a bullet train to Seattle or BC. Our nation has a terrible view of rail travel, sadly because the oil industry hates the idea for clearly self serving reasons.

 

This might work. Lets just hope the engineers will make this train track elevated in Chehalis, WA since this area has flooded the last two years and no local/state/federal has fixed this issue with I-5.

 

that map looks like the plot basis for the next season of 24

 

I'd support it if a private group were building it. My tax dollars? No thanks. The airlines work just fine if you need to get there in a hurry. Otherwise, drive, take the existing train or the bus.

I'd love to see the passenger cost per-mile. There's no way it's economically feasible in all those places. Perhaps from DC to NY and NY to Boston, but that's about it.

 

A San Diego to San Fransisco line makes total sense to me. It'd boost tourism, too. I know I'd be tempted to do a rail trip on a short vacation, just to see Southern California without the hassle of figuring out freeways/parking/etc.

maxie's point about passenger cost per mile is interesting, but it pretty much ignores this benefit. It's impossible to put a dollar figure on how much Europe makes every year in tourism because of its amazing train system.

Eugene to Vancouver? I don't know. I'd probably take it at some point.

I wish Amtrak still ran from Boise to Portland, even just once a week. I'd love to take my kids on it. I'd have no problem with a share of my tax dollars going to opening that line up again.

 

I would definitly take this. High speed rail would rock. Not only that, but it might help take a load off of the airport. As it is I try to take a Amtrak up to Seattle for at least one Seahawk game a year.

Also I forgot to add, that when a route is added such as this, that freight can take advantage of it as well, and rail is the most efficient method to move things. We aren't talking cars loaded with Iron and chemicals here. I am talking like packages and stuff that need a high speed delivery. None of the security headaches of the airport.

Plus, you never have to worry about Terrorist flying it into the space needle.

 

There should definitely be a high-speed from San Diego up to Vancouver.

It will never happen, though.

 

i would goto so many more mariner games

 

How many of you would pay to take this train if the true cost were passed through to the user? What if tickets were $300-$500? Something tells me the view in this forum would be different.

As for Mook's point, people visit Europe because it's interesting, not because of their train system. You don't visit London and Paris just to take the Eurostar.