OBAMA’S GRAND PLANS FOR US RAILWAYS
Posted on 04 May 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Photo by Jim Young
On 16 April, US President Barack Obama unveiled plans to grow the country’s rail network and improve train travel. By investing $8 billion in stimulus funding to expand rail service, he said, America will create jobs and reduce pollution. He cited the success of high speed passenger rail lines in countries such as China, Japan, France, and Spain. “This is not some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky vision of the future. It’s happening now. The problem is, it’s happening elsewhere,” Obama was quoted saying.
The plan identifies 10 new corridors for high-speed routes and enhances existing lines to improve speed and efficiency. In addition to the funding from the stimulus plan, the president said he is seeking $5 billion through the federal budget to help improve rail lines. This funding would enable trains to go from 112 to 160km/h along some lines and would reduce congestion on streets and airports that amount to some $80 billion in lost productivity.
Vice President Joe Biden, standing by the president’s side, commutes daily by train between Washington and his home in Wilmington, Delaware – and has done so during more than three decades in the US Senate. Known by some as “Amtrak Joe,” Obama says Biden is “America’s number one rail fan.”
“This plan lets American travellers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways,” Obama said. “Imagine boarding a train in the centre of a city — no racing to an airport and across a terminal, no delays, no sitting on the tarmac, no lost luggage, no taking off your shoes. Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 160km/h, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination.”
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Everyone has his plan of how to be successful. Barack Obama found the recipe, so it would be a good thing for others to follow it.
I really liked your blog!
Back during the 1930’s and 1940’s many passenger trains did in fact operate at 100mi/hr (160km/hr) in many parts of the eastern and central USA. Milwaukee Railroad owned some high-speed “HIAWATHA” steam locomotives that regularly exceeded 100mi/hr while in service. During that period Pennsylvania RailRoad introduced the famous fleet of GG1 electric locomotives that pulled heavyweight trains in excess of 100mi/hr between Washington and New York City. The same operator also built a steam turbine locomotive that regularly pulled passenger trains at such speeds.
It is certainly enlightening to see America “go back to the future” as far as fast passenger trains are concerned.
Harry Valentine