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WEEKLY WHINE

See the USA from your sleeping bay

You will no doubt recall that last week, we presented a variety of recommendations on how to get high speed railways moving in the United States. But now that we have sparked your interest, you are surely wondering just how our plan would work and what the connection map would look like.

Well, allow us to show you. We are pleased to present the GoobNet Highly Effective Accelerated Railway Transit for Accessing National Destinations with a Special Opportunity to Unify Locations plan. Here we propose constructing high speed railway lines, which support a top speed of 250 km/h or more, all across the lower 48 states of the United States of America. The lines are constructed in phases, beginning with the corridors that are expected to have the greatest demand. We then proceed onward in logical steps toward the ultimate goal of serving all major population centres throughout the United States.

PHASE 1

In this first phase, we concentrate on establishing a basic high speed rail network linking major population centres in three areas. Lines 95 [replacement for the Acela], 70, and 80 join the Northeast and Midwest. Line 10 connects the Gulf coast and three major urban areas in Texas, and Line 5 makes it possible to traverse the entire Pacific coast in one day.

Shown here are the segments that are to be laid down in phase 1 along with their estimated distances. Intermediate stops are not shown here, although we expect up to three in each segment. For example, Line 95 will include the same stops that the Acela currently makes, including Wilmington, DE and Providence, RI.

Note that the line numbers are borrowed from existing interstate highways that follow similar paths. In fact, we recommend making use of the interstates’ rights of way where possible. The tracks, for instance, could be laid down in the median or along the shoulder of the highway.

PHASE 1 SEGMENTS
LineFromToDistance [km]
5San Diego, CALos Angeles, CA200
5Los Angeles, CASan Jose, CA620
5San Jose, CASan Francisco/​Oakland, CA80
5San Francisco/​Oakland, CAPortland, OR1,020
5Portland, ORSeattle, WA280
10San Antonio, TXHouston, TX320
10Houston, TXNew Orleans, LA560
10New Orleans, LAMobile, AL230
10Mobile, ALJacksonville, FL650
35Houston, TXDallas/​Ft Worth, TX390
55Memphis, TNSt Louis, MO460
55St Louis, MOChicago, IL480
70Kansas City, MOSt Louis, MO400
70St Louis, MOIndianapolis, IN390
70Indianapolis, INColumbus, OH280
70Columbus, OHPittsburgh, PA300
70Pittsburgh, PAPhiladelphia, PA490
80Chicago, ILToledo, OH400
80Toledo, OHCleveland, OH190
80Cleveland, OHPittsburgh, PA210
95Washington, DCPhiladelphia, PA220
95Philadelphia, PANew York City, NY150
95New York City, NYBoston, MA370
 TOTAL8,690

At this point, we have laid down more than eight thousand kilometres of track, and we have provided coverage to 22 states and the District of Columbia. We have a few major transfer points established already: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Houston.

HEARTANDSOUL Phase 1 map

PHASE 2

This second phase sees the routes extended to other large population centres that are close to, but not on, the original routes. Places like Las Vegas and Atlanta receive coverage here. Families across the Southeast will also be excited to see a connection to Orlando. We also begin making international links as we connect to Tijuana, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal.

PHASE 2 SEGMENTS
LineFromToDistance [km]
5Tijuana, BCSan Diego, CA30
5Seattle, WAVancouver, BC230
10Los Angeles, CAPhoenix, AZ600
15Los Angeles, CALas Vegas, NV430
20Jackson, MSBirmingham, AL380
20Birmingham, ALAtlanta, GA230
35Dallas/​Ft Worth, TXOklahoma City, OK330
35Oklahoma City, OKWichita, KS260
35Wichita, KSKansas City, MO320
35Kansas City, MOOmaha, NE300
40Oklahoma City, OKTulsa, OK170
40Memphis, TNNashville, TN340
40Nashville, TNLouisville, KY280
40Louisville, KYCincinnati, OH160
40Cincinnati, OHColumbus, OH170
55New Orleans, LAJackson, MS300
55Jackson, MSMemphis, TN340
75Toledo, OHDetroit, MI100
75Detroit, MIHamilton, ON330
75Hamilton, ONToronto, ON70
80San Francisco/​Oakland, CASacramento, CA140
80Sacramento, CAReno, NV210
80Omaha, NEDes Moines, IA230
80Des Moines, IAChicago, IL530
87New York City, NYAlbany, NY240
87Albany, NYMontréal, QC360
90Cleveland, OHErie, PA170
90Erie, PABuffalo, NY160
95Miami, FLOrlando, FL380
95Orlando, FLJacksonville, FL230
190Hamilton, ONBuffalo, NY110
 TOTAL8,130

We have now reached a total of about 17,000 km of track that together service 31 US states, one Mexican state, three Canadian provinces, and DC. With this phase, New Orleans, Memphis, Los Angeles, San Francisco/​Oakland, and Toledo have become major transfer points.

HEARTANDSOUL Phase 2 map

PHASE 3

In this third phase, the dream of travelling from coast to coast in the comfort of a high speed train finally becomes a reality. Both Lines 10 and 80 have their eastern and western branches joined. The Shallow South is also connected with the Northeast and the Deep South with the completion of Line 20.

PHASE 3 SEGMENTS
LineFromToDistance [km]
10Phoenix, AZTucson, AZ190
10Tucson, AZLas Cruces, NM440
10Las Cruces, NMEl Paso, TX70
10El Paso, TXSan Antonio, TX890
20Atlanta, GACharlotte, NC390
20Charlotte, NCRaleigh/​Durham, NC270
20Raleigh/​Durham, NCRichmond, VA270
80Reno, NVSalt Lake City, UT830
80Salt Lake City, UTDenver, CO860
80Denver, COLincoln, NE790
80Lincoln, NEOmaha, NE90
90Minneapolis/​St Paul, MNMadison, WI430
90Madison, WIMilwaukee, WI130
90Milwaukee, WIChicago, IL140
95Richmond, VAWashington, DC170
 TOTAL5,960

With the completion of this phase, we have nearly 23,000 km of high speed railways. 39 US states now have service.

HEARTANDSOUL Phase 3 map

PHASE 4

The previous three phases have seen a revolution in the way Americans travel. But to date, only the large cities have had a chance to play. Here in the fourth phase, we begin the long process of linking up the entire nation. Places that had been too far out of the way, like the Tampa Bay region, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone get their chance now. The completion of Line 95 also means easy travel up and down the east coast, plus the long awaited Spring Break Express with stops like the Norfolk/​Virginia Beach area and Myrtle Beach.

PHASE 4 SEGMENTS
LineFromToDistance [km]
4Tampa/​St Petersburg, FLOrlando, FL170
15Las Vegas, NVSalt Lake City, UT680
15Salt Lake City, UTYellowstone National Park, WY600
17Phoenix, AZGrand Canyon National Park, AZ360
17Grand Canyon National Park, AZLas Vegas, NV450
20Dallas/​Ft Worth, TXShreveport, LA300
20Shreveport, LAJackson, MS350
25Las Cruces, NMAlbuquerque, NM360
25Albuquerque, NMSanta Fe, NM100
25Santa Fe, NMColorado Springs, CO520
25Colorado Springs, CODenver, CO110
25Denver, COCheyenne, WY170
25Cheyenne, WYRapid City, SD460
35Omaha, NESioux Falls, SD300
40Tulsa, OKLittle Rock, AR440
40Little Rock, ARMemphis, TN220
90Seattle, WASpokane, WA450
90Spokane, WAYellowstone National Park, WY830
90Yellowstone National Park, WYBillings, MT330
90Billings, MTRapid City, SD600
90Rapid City, SDSioux Falls, SD560
90Sioux Falls, SDMinneapolis/​St Paul, MN440
90Buffalo, NYRochester, NY120
90Rochester, NYSyracuse, NY140
90Syracuse, NYAlbany, NY240
95Jacksonville, FLSavannah, GA220
95Savannah, GACharleston, SC170
95Charleston, SCMyrtle Beach, SC160
95Myrtle Beach, SCWilmington, NC120
95Wilmington, NCNorfolk/​Virginia Beach, VA410
95Norfolk/​Virginia Beach, VARichmond, VA150
 TOTAL10,530

We have now completed the basic framework for the high speed railway network that the United States so desperately needs. It is equipped with more than 33,000 km of track that services 44 states: only Alaska, Hawai‘i, North Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have not yet experienced the joy of high speed trains.

We are also establishing more transfer points. Richmond, Jackson, and Jacksonville are becoming important hubs in the east. Out west, Salt Lake City has quietly become a major hub for those wishing to visit Las Vegas or Yellowstone.

HEARTANDSOUL Phase 4 map

SUMMARY

We have here presented a proposal for a high speed railway network across the United States. Our incremental approach means that the nation can build what it can afford, when it can afford it. The completion of each phase adds new capabilities to the system: basic links for major cities in phase 1, international links in phase 2, nationwide transit in phase 3, and fully developed coverage in phase 4.

NORTH-SOUTH LINES
LineS TerminusN TerminusDistance [km]
5Tijuana, BCVancouver, BC2,460
15Los Angeles, CAYellowstone National Park, WY1,710
17Phoenix, AZLas Vegas, NV810
25Las Cruces, NMRapid City, SD1,720
35Houston, TXSioux Falls, SD1,900
55New Orleans, LAChicago, IL1,580
75Toledo, OHToronto, ON500
87New York City, NYMontréal, QC600
95Miami, FLBoston, MA2,750
EAST-WEST LINES
LineW TerminusE TerminusDistance [km]
4Tampa/​St Petersburg, FLOrlando, FL170
10Los Angeles, CAJacksonville, FL3,950
20Dallas/​Ft Worth, TXRichmond, VA2,190
40Oklahoma City, OKColumbus, OH1,780
70Kansas City, MOPhiladelphia, PA1,860
80San Francisco/​Oakland, CAPittsburgh, PA4,480
90 [W]Seattle, WAChicago, IL3,910
90 [E]Cleveland, OHAlbany, NY830
190Hamilton, ONBuffalo, NY110

As this network develops, we can expect to see demand for air travel decrease. Why would you fly from Los Angeles to Seattle when you can just hop on a train for about half a day, with the added advantage of being able to walk around while you are on the train, sit at a comfortable table and eat lunch as you watch the scenery whoosh past, and then return to your seat without having to force three other people to get up just so that you can squeeze back into your seat behind the one in front of you that’s tilted so far back that you can’t move any other muscles?

We hope we can count on your support in getting this proposal off the ground.

Well, on the ground. Although some parts of it could be on elevated tracks. And there will probably be some tunnels involved as well. But not too many. You want to see those awesome mountain views. Not the interior of the mountains. Unless you are a geologist. And if you are a geologist, just hold tight. The Geologist Express will begin service to Yosemite National Park before long.

HEARTANDSOUL map

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