As much as I would like to see it, there is no way they will build a high speed train from Calgary to Edmonton in my lifetime. Chances are, the first bullet train in Canada will be wither a Toronto-Montreal line, or a "Golden Horseshoe" line from Toronto-Niagara falls.
It's too bad, because a project like that would be really something to behold. Calgary to Edmonton in less than 90 minutes, with a brief stopover in Red Deer.
As much as I would like to see it, there is no way they will build a high speed train from Calgary to Edmonton in my lifetime. Chances are, the first bullet train in Canada will be wither a Toronto-Montreal line, or a "Golden Horseshoe" line from Toronto-Niagara falls.
It's too bad, because a project like that would be really something to behold. Calgary to Edmonton in less than 90 minutes, with a brief stopover in Red Deer.
I am of the belief that the majority of China's 'economic boom' is falsified.
Yes, the manufacturing sector is booming, but there are far too many yellow cards popping up in terms of their corrupt government and economy to take any of these massive projects seriously, either for the efficiency or longevity.
When more than 20 percent of reverse mergers on the NYSE prove to be based on completely falsified documents (that american auditing firms are falsifying, either as a result of incompetence or more corruption), you've got to take everything with a grain.
If I had the money, I'd speculate full-time on the authenticity of newly-emerging Chinese companies.
As much as I would like to see it, there is no way they will build a high speed train from Calgary to Edmonton in my lifetime. Chances are, the first bullet train in Canada will be wither a Toronto-Montreal line, or a "Golden Horseshoe" line from Toronto-Niagara falls.
It's too bad, because a project like that would be really something to behold. Calgary to Edmonton in less than 90 minutes, with a brief stopover in Red Deer.
It is, unfortunately, a pipe dream.
You can fly to Edmonton in 45 minutes, or you can drive in under 3 hours for no greater cost than a high speed train would charge, and not be limited to arriving downtown.
There are just too many options that are either faster, cheaper or more versitile than a high speed train. Not nearly enough people would use it to justify the cost.
I am of the belief that the majority of China's 'economic boom' is falsified.
Yes, the manufacturing sector is booming, but there are far too many yellow cards popping up in terms of their corrupt government and economy to take any of these massive projects seriously, either for the efficiency or longevity.
Some time ago I watched a documentary which claimed 30% of Chinas GDP was based in the construction sector. They claimed, previously the highest percentage of any economy was 17% which was in the US in the 2000s leading up to the crash.
At some point Chinas gonna have to slow down on building, how much more can they support before the gravy train ends? How many more projects are going to end up like the train network just because China needs to keep on building?
You can fly to Edmonton in 45 minutes, or you can drive in under 3 hours for no greater cost than a high speed train would charge, and not be limited to arriving downtown.
There are just too many options that are either faster, cheaper or more versitile than a high speed train. Not nearly enough people would use it to justify the cost.
unfortunately it isn't a 3 hour drive or a 45 minute plane trip. downtown to downtown can easily stretch over 3 depending upon construction and volumes on the roads, and 45 minutes airfare doesn't take into account the 30 minute drive to leduc on the one side or the 1 hour pre board wait at either end. or the 20 minute drive to/from downtown Calgary depending upon time of day. what used to be a nice 2.5 hour drive is now longer than that.
for my travel, it is close enough that my decision over whether to drive or fly tends to be based upon what i will be doing at either end...and the expense hit of course to my employer.
my interest in high speed would be to reduce the travel time, offset other transportation costs, reduce other infrastructure expenses, and improve intra-provincial travel.
if this is just a train, then i don't see the benefit. if it can do the trip much faster than driving, then it is something that i would like to see fully investigated.
above all, it has to make economic sense, not just because people might anecdotally like to see it. (and yes i do totally see the irony of me hehheh relating how i might like to see it)
there are plenty of examples where government operates businesses at a loss for "greater public good", however i wouldn't think this would be one of them. with the money being thrown around by various political parties, it is hard not to think that one will throw this out at some point in exchange for votes.
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Isn't part of the appeal of high speed rail is that you don't need jet fuel to make it go? You can generate electricity (yes I know - still using energy) to get the train there?
I would say that if you can come up with alternative electrical options (solar, wind, etc) travelling by train will one day have to be cheaper than by plane. I know if I could catch a train to Edmonton or Vancouver (or Toronto) that got me there in close to the normal time, I would be all over it. Especially if you are travelling with a family.
It might be that we need to put the infrastructure in now while we can afford it and are capable of doing it...
Isn't part of the appeal of high speed rail is that you don't need jet fuel to make it go? You can generate electricity (yes I know - still using energy) to get the train there?
I would say that if you can come up with alternative electrical options (solar, wind, etc) travelling by train will one day have to be cheaper than by plane. I know if I could catch a train to Edmonton or Vancouver (or Toronto) that got me there in close to the normal time, I would be all over it. Especially if you are travelling with a family.
It might be that we need to put the infrastructure in now while we can afford it and are capable of doing it...
Trains will never come close to the same as a plane for Vancouver because of the impassibility of the terrain. Vancouver is only twice as far away from Calgary as Edmonton yet conservatively takes 4 times as long to drive probably closer to 5, trains would be dealing with similar issues. going through the mountains.
As for Toronto, it's too far away for trains to be effective in replacing air travel. High speed rail is indicated for trip between 250-900km, toronto is well beyond that.
unfortunately it isn't a 3 hour drive or a 45 minute plane trip. downtown to downtown can easily stretch over 3 depending upon construction and volumes on the roads, and 45 minutes airfare doesn't take into account the 30 minute drive to leduc on the one side or the 1 hour pre board wait at either end. or the 20 minute drive to/from downtown Calgary depending upon time of day. what used to be a nice 2.5 hour drive is now longer than that.
And if you aren't going downtown to downtown?
The love affair with the train doesn't take into account the 20-25 minutes it takes to drive into downtown just to get to the train station, then another 20-25 (or more) waiting for a taxi or bus to get to your destination in Edmonton. Nor does it take into account the fact that you have a limited number of daily departures. You can drive any time, and there are about 30 flights every day to Edmonton. If I want to leave at 9AM, but the next train is 10AM, I might as well just drive, especially if downtown Edmonton isn't my destination.
Oh, and yes, it is a 3 hour drive, often less. I've done it many, many times, usually leaving from the south end of town.
Trains will never come close to the same as a plane for Vancouver because of the impassibility of the terrain. Vancouver is only twice as far away from Calgary as Edmonton yet conservatively takes 4 times as long to drive probably closer to 5, trains would be dealing with similar issues. going through the mountains.
As for Toronto, it's too far away for trains to be effective in replacing air travel. High speed rail is indicated for trip between 250-900km, toronto is well beyond that.
Isn't Vancouver about 1000 km away from Calgary? And I drove to Vancouver two summers ago and it only took me 10 hours.
As for the train I'd love to be able to party in Edmonton and be able to make it home before 3 a.m.
Nightclubs in Edmonton are far superior to what Calgary has. Also wouldn't mind visiting and shopping at WEM routinely.
Ok, I guess I kind of figured it'd be more like a P3 than a government project. Thanks to other posters that actually outlined why it wont work around here. I'm still interested to know what something like that would cost, though.
Some time ago I watched a documentary which claimed 30% of Chinas GDP was based in the construction sector. They claimed, previously the highest percentage of any economy was 17% which was in the US in the 2000s leading up to the crash.
At some point Chinas gonna have to slow down on building, how much more can they support before the gravy train ends? How many more projects are going to end up like the train network just because China needs to keep on building?
Ok, I guess I kind of figured it'd be more like a P3 than a government project. Thanks to other posters that actually outlined why it wont work around here. I'm still interested to know what something like that would cost, though.
I am of the belief that the majority of China's 'economic boom' is falsified.
Yes, the manufacturing sector is booming, but there are far too many yellow cards popping up in terms of their corrupt government and economy to take any of these massive projects seriously, either for the efficiency or longevity.
When more than 20 percent of reverse mergers on the NYSE prove to be based on completely falsified documents (that american auditing firms are falsifying, either as a result of incompetence or more corruption), you've got to take everything with a grain.
If I had the money, I'd speculate full-time on the authenticity of newly-emerging Chinese companies.
Isn't Vancouver about 1000 km away from Calgary? And I drove to Vancouver two summers ago and it only took me 10 hours.
As for the train I'd love to be able to party in Edmonton and be able to make it home before 3 a.m.
Nightclubs in Edmonton are far superior to what Calgary has. Also wouldn't mind visiting and shopping at WEM routinely.
1067 by car to vancouver, 670 by air. And if you made it to Vancouver in 10, you're a speedy driver who didn't get caught in traffic which is still 4 times the 2 1/2 hours it takes to get to Edmonton. If traffic sucks it's not that hard to add one or 2 hours in those mountains, obviously once it's twinned the whole way you won't get stuck behind a motorhome going 20 under the speed limit through the mountains though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by McG
unfortunately it isn't a 3 hour drive or a 45 minute plane trip. downtown to downtown can easily stretch over 3 depending upon construction and volumes on the roads, and 45 minutes airfare doesn't take into account the 30 minute drive to leduc on the one side or the 1 hour pre board wait at either end. or the 20 minute drive to/from downtown Calgary depending upon time of day. what used to be a nice 2.5 hour drive is now longer than that.
Well I had to the good fortune of making the drive to Edmonton and back today, it was in heavier then average traffic being the long weekend and it didn't take anywhere close to 3 hours even with a pit stop in red deer both directions, even with my sister driving(read knock 10 minutes off if i was), when i drove it earlier this year i know we did it in under 2:30 because we left after 1:30 and had to be there by 4 and just made it. Contruction has a negligible affect for the most part at outside of the rushhour in the inner city areas so does congestion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4X4
Ok, I guess I kind of figured it'd be more like a P3 than a government project. Thanks to other posters that actually outlined why it wont work around here. I'm still interested to know what something like that would cost, though.
Depends how fast you want your train to go, laws don't permit trains going over 200 kph to use the same tracks as commercial travel, so for a true high speed train(300+ kph) you have to build a whole new network.
but coles notes as best I can remember. for a 200 mph(320 kph) train non-stop from Calgary to Edmonton would take 1:20 on average. The line could be built for around $4 billion, ohhh and recommended ticket costs over $160 per person each way.
which is still 4 times the 2 1/2 hours it takes to get to Edmonton. If traffic sucks it's not that hard to add one or 2 hours in those mountains, obviously once it's twinned the whole way you won't get stuck behind a motorhome going 20 under the speed limit through the mountains though.
