Podcast Summary
US high speed rail progress: The US has made progress in high speed rail but still lags behind countries with established systems, while Virgin Atlantic aims to make every part of travel memorable
While there have been significant advancements in high speed rail in the United States, it may not yet be a reality for travelers in the coming years. The country once had a robust inner city rail system, but after World War 2, the focus shifted to building the interstate highway system instead. This decision led to the degradation of the railway system and the eventual creation of Amtrak. However, recent funding and projects, such as the new Acela trains and BrightLine West, indicate that high speed rail is making progress and could become a viable option for travelers in the future. Despite this, the United States still lags behind countries like Japan, France, and China, which have had high speed rail for decades. Virgin Atlantic, on the other hand, is focused on making every part of the travel experience memorable, from the journey to the destination.
US transportation policy: Historical investment in highways over public transportation has led to sprawling metropolitan regions and less effective, equitable public transportation systems in the US
The historical investment choices made by American political officials in favor of car travel over inner city rail have had lasting impacts on the development of effective public transportation systems in the United States. This disproportionate investment in highways versus public transportation has influenced people's daily transportation choices and contributed to the sprawling nature of American metropolitan regions. The lack of concentration in investment and population in urban cores has hindered the creation of successful, cost-efficient public transportation systems, resulting in lower ridership and less equitable societies. Despite these challenges, there are successful examples of public transportation systems in the US, such as the New York City subway and the Washington DC metro. To improve local transportation systems, it's crucial to reconsider investment priorities and encourage more concentrated urban development.
US High Speed Rail: The development of a US high speed rail system will take decades due to public sector capacity limitations and lack of long-term federal funding commitment. Spain's success is due to a well-resourced public sector and long-term funding. Private alternatives like Brightline are also emerging.
The implementation of a national high speed rail system in the United States, similar to the interstate highway system, would take several decades due to the lack of public sector capacity for investment and a long-term funding commitment from the federal government. Spain, as an example, has been able to develop a substantial high speed rail network efficiently due to a well-resourced public sector and a long-term funding commitment. The United States needs to address these issues to make high speed rail a viable transportation option. Additionally, there are private alternatives like Brightline taking on these projects.
Intercity rail partnerships: Intercity rail in the US may involve public-private partnerships, with Amtrak potentially playing a major role due to its federal charter. Sustainability is a priority, as rail systems can be easily electrified to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The future of intercity rail in the United States may involve a mix of public and private sector models, as seen in countries like Spain and France. Amtrak, as a federally chartered corporation, could potentially play a major role in these partnerships. Sustainability is a crucial factor in these discussions, as transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and rail systems have the capability to be easily powered by electricity. Innovative approaches, such as public-private partnerships and Amtrak's role, offer opportunities for the development of more sustainable intercity rail systems in the US.
US electrified high-speed rail systems: Despite environmental benefits and availability of renewable power, the US lags behind in electrifying rail systems while countries like India make significant progress. Favorite subway systems include Madrid, Mexico City, Bangkok's BTS Skytrain, Singapore, Montreal, and Paris, known for high ridership, effectiveness, and relatively low costs.
Electrified high-speed rail systems offer significant environmental benefits and the ability to rely on renewable power, making them a worthwhile investment. However, the United States has been slow in implementing this technology, with many systems still operating on diesel fuel. On the other hand, countries like India have made significant strides in electrifying their rail networks in recent years. As for favorite subway systems, the speakers mentioned Madrid, Mexico City, Bangkok's BTS Skytrain, Singapore, Montreal, and Paris. The speakers highlighted the effectiveness, high ridership, and relatively low costs of these systems, with personal connections adding to their fondness. When asked about a US city that could recognize the same type of return as Bangkok with its BTS Skytrain, no definitive answer was given.
US underground railways: Investments in underground railway systems could benefit highly congested areas like the Santa Barbara Corridor in LA and Midwest cities, with potential for high-speed rail connections between major population centers by 2030.
There are several cities in the United States that could greatly benefit from substantial investments in underground railway systems, particularly in areas with high traffic congestion. One such example is the Santa Barbara Corridor in Los Angeles, which runs from the valley through the canyon to UCLA and the airport, and is characterized by extreme congestion along the 405 freeway. Another area of potential is the Midwest, specifically between large population centers like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. These cities, which were once heavily reliant on trains and intercity rail, could once again be well-connected with high-speed rail. The most optimistic prediction is that by 2030, a high-speed rail corridor between Los Angeles and Las Vegas will be in operation, providing service at up to 200 miles per hour. This could inspire interest in better transportation connections throughout the country. However, it's important to note that such projects take time and significant investment to come to fruition. As for the wackiest prediction, it's safe to say that hyperloop technology is not yet ready for prime time.
Train automation: Significant opportunities exist to automate subway systems in major American cities, with ease of implementation and potential for tech enthusiast interest.
While there is ongoing progress towards autonomous vehicles, there may be greater opportunities for automation in public transportation systems, particularly trains. The speaker, Yonah Freemark from the Urban Institute, highlighted the ease with which train systems can be automated compared to cars, and pointed to the success of automated metro systems in other countries. He expressed his belief that there is a significant opportunity to automate subway systems in major American cities like New York, Washington, Boston, and Chicago. The speaker also noted the interest of tech enthusiasts in the complex mapping and routing aspects of trains, making trains a cool and intriguing area of focus for the future of transportation.