Let's just say America had high speed lines similar to the Bullet train or the TGV. How long would it take to go from NY to LA? NY to FL? NY to CHI? The Shinkansen Nozomi, Japan's fastest train, makes the 634 mile trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka in about 5 hours.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
My question is, will the scenery be as scenic to see if the trains go so fast???
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I'd hazard a guess that, depending on routing, NYC - CHI would be 6 hours.....maybe 7., NYC-MIA in maybe 10-11 hours. Won't even hazard a guess on NYC-LAX as it would not be a same day trip.
Scenery? It's still possible to take in the scenery without discomfort in the neighborhood of 135 to 150mph on the three 'high speed' trains I have experienced firsthand. Those would be Amtrak's Acela and then the Swedish X2000 and the German ICE which both tested on the Northeast Corridor when I was in graduate school at Maryland in the early 1990's.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
When I took Eurostar from London to Paris, the scenery was beautiful and the speed did not detract from the views. But one thing that scared the bejeezus out of me was when I was staring out the window and we suddenly passed another Eurostar going in the opposite direction. The "whoosh" and the speed are incredible at that point.
Posted by ehbowen (Member # 4317) on :
But it doesn't last long....
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
Sojourner,
I get your point which you make here and on the thread about Indian trains. I've travelled on the TGV and as long as the scenery isn't too close, the speed is not a factor. So, for example, if the Empire Builder is speeding through eastern Montana or North Dakota, you might not miss much. On the other hand, maybe the Capitol Limited route is better appreciated at a slower pace.
TB
Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :
I remember taking the TGV from Paris to Geneva and the speed was not an issue when it came to 'taking away' from the beauty of the scenery. And man, what a ride.
Posted by dns8560 (Member # 15184) on :
IIRC the TGV to Geneva travels at high speeds only as far as Dijon. The rest of the journey is on the old line. I don't suppose there'll ever be high-speed long distance trains here.
Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :
quote:Originally posted by dns8560: IIRC the TGV to Geneva travels at high speeds only as far as Dijon. The rest of the journey is on the old line. I don't suppose there'll ever be high-speed long distance trains here.
About 165 of the 250 miles then? Better to have experienced the TGV at high speeds even for that short a distance than to have never experienced it at all. I'm glad I got the opportunity.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
IF the rate of advance averaged 120MPH, a
1000 mile journey would be 8 hours, 20 minutes
2000 mile journey would be 16 hours, 40 minutes
3000 mile journey would be 26 hours.
Now, factor in to that rate of advance a 20 minute station stop every 200 miles
1000 mile journey increases to 10 hours
2000 mile jouney increases to 20 hours
3000 mile journey increases to 30 hours.
Note the term average rate of advance. It's not the peak speed that matters in transportation; it's the distance from A-B divided by the time taken to get there.
Posted by 20th Century (Member # 2196) on :
Thank dns8560 I often thought of starting a thread like this, especially for New York - Chicago, And New York - Atlanta, or Montreal.
Posted by dns8560 (Member # 15184) on :
Thanks for those timings, Pullman. Does freight use the Chunnel and TGV lines?
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I think freight runs thru the chunnel at night. I saw a show once about a freight train fire in the tunnel once so I think it does.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
quote:Originally posted by dns8560: Thanks for those timings, Pullman. Does freight use the Chunnel and TGV lines?