Maglev is the right choice for rail line

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1. By Surmoka

   Sept. 30, 2009

   4:50 a.m.

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   For those not familiar with what this Maglev exactly is, take a look at these videos:

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8nazrmtu... (part 1)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJvq-DMez... (part 2)

2. By jlb101

   Sept. 30, 2009

   2:05 p.m.

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   The government is broke. Where is the fourteen billion, actually knowing the government it will be forty-five billion, going to come from to build this tax sucking rathole? Assuming it gets built, how much in subsidies is the fool taxpayers going to have to pay to keep the damned thing running.

   If a person wants to get from Anaheim to Las Vegas they should either drive or take Greyhound and leave the taxpayers alone.

3. By larry5

   Sept. 30, 2009

   11:46 p.m.

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   Who has determined that Mickey Mouse fans want to come to Vegas for the gambling and nudity?

   Who has determined that Las Vegas residents want to visit the Enchanted Kingdom in droves?

4. By Surmoka

   Oct. 1, 2009

   3:21 a.m.

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   @jlb101: if people in charge were thinking like you, there'd be no transportation systems on Earth. No trains, no airplanes, no nothing.

5. By rafael

   Oct. 1, 2009

   6:55 a.m.

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   The maglev proposal assumes that the medians of I-10 and CA-57 will be available to get from Colton/Ontario to Anaheim.

   Well, guess what? Precisely those medians are now being considered for the LA-Ontario-San Diego leg of California's own steel wheels HSR system because Union Pacific isn't prepared to sell any of its right of way. It's now very likely indeed that the alternate route via the freeways will be chosen in the next few months, which means there would be no place to construct the incompatible maglev tracks. Not that California would spend any of its own money or agree to federal funding for a second HSR service through the San Gabriel Valley.

   Conclusion: maglev isn't ever going to reach LA or Anaheim.

   If you want to keep bickering about the relative merits of the technology, that's your prerogative. Just be aware that maglev would probably never make it across the border, so Nevada would be cutting off its nose to spite its face. California made its decision in favor of steel wheels last November. Nevada had 30 years to make maglev to Anaheim happen, it didn't, now it's too late.

   The best option for everyone would be a straight-up steel wheels spur off the California system, e.g. from Mojave to Las Vegas via Barstow. The DesertXpress proposal could be modified/expanded to become just that, delivering DIRECT service to LA, Anaheim and SF, and to Sacramento and San Diego later on. That would eliminate any need for a multi-billion dollar relief airport in the Ivanpah Valley, the land could be used for a solar thermal power plant instead.

   Btw, China just placed a $4 billion order for 80 Zefiro 380 (as in 380km/h = 236mph top speed) trains with Bombardier. Through 2020, that country will be spending $300 billion on 6000 miles of brand-new HSR tracks, virtually all of it steel wheels. The one and only new maglev project, from Shanghai to Hangzhou, has been an on-again off-again affair.

6. By Surmoka

   Oct. 1, 2009

   2:12 p.m.

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   Oh here is our rafael, spreading his wannabe-decisions as if they were unalterable circumstances out of human scope.
   How low profile.

7. By rafael

   Oct. 2, 2009

   9:16 a.m.

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   @ Surmoka -

   WEAK! I'm saying *Nevada* isn't going to change California's mind. There as a window of opportunity and for better or worse, Nevada simply missed it.