CNN notices high-speed rail is an expensive boondoggle

CNN notices high-speed rail is an expensive boondoggle. CNN reporting on this is like a pig playing the piano – it’s not whether the pig plays well or not, what’s amazing is that he played at all.

This post was last modified on April 12, 2021

Bonfire of the Absurdities: After 35 year career writing software for IBM mainframes, am now self-employed contractor thinking of joining a union and striking for higher wages. Cured morbid fear of heights when I learned to look at them as lengths standing on end. Uncompromising in refusal to accept browser cookies. Amateur investor who has accumulated a small fortune in the market after starting out years ago with a large one. For recreation, I run, hike, kayak and play tennis but will not consider synchronized swimming under any circumstances.

View Comments (18)

  • If it's operated by the same people that operate AmTrak, it'll be a complete mess. That is, after spending billions to build it, which will be a complete mess.

  • The worst one so far looks like the pipe dream they want to run from Victorville, CA to Las Vegas. Victorville is about 100 miles from LA. After you've driven that far why would anyone with half a brain then spend more money to get on the train? Last time I drove to Vegas on 15 was on a Friday. In the fast lane it wasn't unusual to be sitting on 90-100 (keeping up with traffic). I hit 115 a couple of times on some downhill stretches. It looked like a mile long NASCAR race. If someone would have lost it, it would have looked like a 10 mile long NASCAR pileup. All I can say is everyone's sure in a hurry to lose their money. (We went on business).

  • Wow! I think this is already twice this year CNN has had a head out of ass experience. That's twice more than in the last two decades.

    • Ain't that a shocker? A news organization taking a critical look at public policy. Dear Leader won't be pleased.

  • Wikipedia (if you can believe that site) says the cost of construction for the Interstate Highway System has been estimated at $425 billion (in 2006 dollars). That came from a USA Today article which didn't cite a source.

    At any rate the Interstate system did cost a big pile of money. But even if the high speed rail network matched the interstate highway system and was paid for by magic, who the hell would use it? Even at TGV speeds of 200mph it would take at least 15 to 18 hours to cross the country where a plane takes 5 or 6.

    But the basic question for me is, what problem does high speed rail solve?

    • I would use it! At first. Until it becomes the giant cluster-flock that flying is. Seriously - I will pretty much only fly internationally now - and I will do whatever I can to get business class, because cattle class is horrible. I have actually been thinking about taking a cruise next time we go visit my hubby's family though, because flying is so terrible.

      My last flight home from Germany cost me an extra $1200 per person, AND we got stuck in a hotel in Frankfurt overnight, because the connecting flight was so overbooked, and our flight got in to the airport 2 (TWO!!!!) minutes late. Not 2 minutes after the flight had left - I could understand that. Two minutes after the one hour in advance that was required for them to prioritize out tickets. With the same airline! I am starting to twitch just remembering it....

      • My wife was in St Maarten last summer with 2 of her girlfriends. When they were coming back, the airline
        (Spirit, DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THEM!!!)
        Screwed up the paperwork to get fueled before departure, so they had to wait. They got into Ft Lauderdale to catch their connecting flight, and had to wait for luggage and go through customs. They missed their connecting flight and had to spend 24 hours in the airport waiting for the next flight because Spirit won't pay for ANYTHING!!!

        I have other stories about them, but in order to save time, just take my advice.....
        NEVER EVER FLY SPIRIT, THEY COMPLETELY SUCK!!!

    • The interstate system was designed to serve more than one purpose. Obviously to speed up passenger car and freight travel but it was a key component of the civil defense effort. The system ensured that men and material could be quickly transported to very specific locations very quickly. Cold War thinking but it makes sense.

    • About the only thing it would do is make Warren Buffet, who owns most of the railroads, even more money.

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