HandsyBread t1_j9x7gp6 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:13 AM

Reply to comment by Jenetyk in High-Speed Rail Project Will Create Over 10,000 Jobs in California by gammapsi05

I’m interested to know what you would classify as cheap? For example getting from LA to SF?

Jenetyk t1_j9x97s2 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:31 AM

I mean, it's an 8 hour+ drive. If rail was even close to the cost of gas/fees, and didn't leave me dead tired upon arrival: it would be worth it. I live in San Diego, I would pay a couple hundred per person for the convenience. Japan spoiled the shit out of me for public long-run transit though.

whackwarrens t1_j9yhvqm wrote on February 25, 2023 at 2:28 PM

LA to SD is like a 30min flight but the airport... Be dope to just hop on a train for an hour. You'd probably get there in the same time with no airport bs to deal with.

jpcorry t1_j9ytwjj wrote on February 25, 2023 at 3:57 PM

You realize you can fly on a literal jet airplane...in about an hour...from SD to SF for less than $300, right?

eh_brah t1_j9yvyg8 wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:11 PM

Yeah but a trip to the airport is literally half your day at least. Getting dropped off, TSA, waiting for an hour just for boarding and takeoff, baggage claim, etc. -- There's so much overhead in plane rides for short trips.

A bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka runs you $100 each way without any of that. Even the cheap seats are spacious, along with awesome food to boot.

Train rides can be so much more than the sad "afterthought" we've made them in America.

digit4lmind t1_j9yz5hd wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:33 PM

Saying air travel takes “about an hour” is intentionally disingenuous

AquiliferX t1_j9zrgsj wrote on February 25, 2023 at 7:39 PM

It's time to start thinking about the impacts of short distance air-travel. Commercial air is the largest polluter by a longshot. Fuck them planes

Fabulous_Ad4928 t1_j9xep3r wrote on February 25, 2023 at 6:31 AM

Barcelona to Madrid is a similar distance. I paid like 10-20 euros for the Ouigo and not much more for AVE and plane ticket (went back and forth a lot). They have some competition in HSR already and it shows in service and options, many trains take 2.5-3 hrs. Heck, even Uzbekistan already has a cheap and fast HSR line of a similar length!