300 billion dollar train wreck in China

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

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.

Assuming you'd drive or take a taxi once you arrived in the other city is a pretty car centric view. One of the basic pre-conditions for an inter-city train to make sense is for the LRT in both cities to go to a reasonable number of places that intra-provincial visitor's would wish to go to.

Calgary has downtown, stampede/dome, Chinook Centre, Max Bell, University, SAIT, etc.

Edmonton has downtown, the University, Coliseum, Rexall, etc.

If the LRT in both cities is expanded with a few more lines, then and only then would high-speed make sense.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

Really? Nightclubs are so bad in Calgary you'd take a train to go to Edmonton? What clubs are you even talking about in Edmonton here?

Stabby's

[Azure]

Thing is, a high speed train costs a lot now, but what about in 10 years?

The cost is only going to go down as better technology is developed. I'm of the opinion that you will see a high speed rail one day between Calgary and Edmonton.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Azure

Thing is, a high speed train costs a lot now, but what about in 10 years?

The cost is only going to go down as better technology is developed. I'm of the opinion that you will see a high speed rail one day between Calgary and Edmonton.

I think TGV and railway construction are pretty mature as far as technologies go. Seems unlikely that there would be major cost reductions.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by SebC

I think TGV and railway construction are pretty mature as far as technologies go. Seems unlikely that there would be major cost reductions.

In what way?

HI-tech stuff always tends to go up and up.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by HOZ

In what way?

HI-tech stuff always tends to go up and up.

Admittedly this is not my area of expertise, but what major progress has been made? Have production volumes increased enough for economies of scale? It's just a general principle that the biggest price drops come early in the life-cycle of a technology.

There's stuff like Maglevs (which are more expensive) and more efficient noses... but for the most part the newer high speed trains are similar to the old ones.

I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by valo403

Wait, what?? Source?

I read it in Bloomberg a couple of months ago (I think).

The article was about the faslsified profits and assets of Chinese companies who go the route of the reverse merger (because of the exorbitant costs of being listed on the NYSE).

Often, the numbers they report are to the americans are not the same numbers that are reported to the chinese central government, and the auditing firms in charge of authenticating these numbers either incompetently miss this, or are in on the fraud.

The article speculated up to 25 percent.

[Bigtime]

Well since this thread has become another Alberta HSR thread here are my thoughts:

Keep acquiring the land and right of way for the HSR system. Then it can go ahead once we reach the proper thresholds of population to make it feasible.

In the meantime, take the QE2 and make it at least a full 3 lanes each direction. Limit large trucks to the right lane (middle lane to pass only) and eliminate the speed limit (inclement weather excluded). Let's do it up Autobahn style.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Well since this thread has become another Alberta HSR thread here are my thoughts:

Keep acquiring the land and right of way for the HSR system. Then it can go ahead once we reach the proper thresholds of population to make it feasible.

In the meantime, take the QE2 and make it at least a full 3 lanes each direction. Limit large trucks to the right lane (middle lane to pass only) and eliminate the speed limit (inclement weather excluded). Let's do it up Autobahn style.

That would be so awesome. I'd love to set the cruise at 200 kph.

[MacGruber]

eliminate the speed limit? right on!

we should probably invest in a few more ambulance helicopters tho

[BlackArcher101]

Unfortunately that would require the removal of all intersections/approaches on Hwy 2 and change them to on/off ramps.

[Bigtime]

Still cheaper than HSR. Let's get it done! Or do we lack the pure strength of will that the Germans have?

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Or do we lack the pure driving intellegence that the Germans have?

I've changed your post to reflect the real problem.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've changed your post to reflect the real problem.

So true. I would love to see some cellphone weilding soccer dad/mom veer out into the fastlane of the autobahn and get smoked by a Ferrari coming at them from behind at 230kph.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I've changed your post to reflect the real problem.

So true, it is always a joy to drive in Germany and be surrounded by very competent drivers compared to here. The transition from the Autobahn back to the Deerfoot is always a shock.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

So true. I would love to see some cellphone weilding soccer dad/mom veer out into the fastlane of the autobahn and get smoked by a Ferrari coming at them from behind at 230kph.

Nevermind the Ferrari, I've been passed by Volkswagens going 200+kph!

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Nevermind the Ferrari, I've been passed by Volkswagens going 200+kph!

Lived there as a kid from 92-95, and I still remember our family being in an 11-seater 5-spd VW van going 175+kph and still having stuff flying by us in the fast lane at racing speeds!