China’s New Bullet Train Breaks Speed Record; Makes Amtrak Cry

[one...two...tree 2,762]

China’s Harmony train can now boast of being the fastest long distance passenger train on the planet. The Harmony express raced 1,100 km in less than three hours on Saturday, travelling from Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province, to the central city of Wuhan. The journey previously took at least 11 hours [Financial Times]. That’s almost like traveling from New York City to Indianapolis by train in three hours. Even if you encountered a two and a half hour delay, which happened to one unlucky load of Harmony riders this week, you’d still make great time.

The train will run 56 times per day and the cheapest fare is 490 yuan (roughly $72), however many slower trains along the same route will be axed to help cover costs. Harmony reached a top speed of 217 miles per hour (350 km per hour) on its debut, bumping off Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train and France’s TGV, both of which can travel at 186 miles per hour (300 km per hour). Embarrassingly for the United States, Amtrak’s Acela service takes three and a half hours to travel the 186 miles (300 km) between New York and Boston.

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[SuperDuper! 230]

Alas, the US is forever stuck with the slooow train to Boston. Just think, with a $50B stimulus grant, we could've had a bullet train. Instead, AIG gobbled it all up

Edited January 1, 2010 by Hopp

[one...two...tree 2,762]

For a look at Chinese high speed rail, both present and future, and the state of U.S. high speed rail spending, click over to Next Big Future.

US railroad administration

The US is spending an initial $8 billion as part of stimulus funds.

California has $10 billion in bonds for high speed rail and the california section of high speed rail is currently estimated at $42.6 billion (and climbing). The new plan accounts for inflation costs between 2012 and 2020, when it anticipates construction would take place.

The Washington Post, citing a GAO study, says construction costs vary from $22 million a mile to $132 million a mile for high speed rail. Once completed, the line will transport passengers from San Diego to Sacramento in 3 hours and 38 minutes, covering 588 miles for an estimated cost of $68.

If the 42.6 billion budget is enough then the cost would be $72.5 million per mile.

China's $300 billion would buy 2273 to 13636 miles of high speed rail line in the USA according to the GAO estimate.

40 states submitted 278 pre-applications for various high-speed passenger rail projects, amounting to $102.5 billion in requests.

[Malrothien 6]

It's going to take me 86hrs to get from Vancouver, BC to Orlando, FL on Amtrak this month. Seattle to Chicago is 45hrs alone. Wee.

[Pooky 3,930]

Harmony reached a top speed of 217 miles per hour (350 km per hour) on its debut, bumping off Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train and France’s TGV, both of which can travel at 186 miles per hour (300 km per hour).

Done this before in an earlier thread. This is the operating speed, not the top speed. If you want record-breaking top speed, look no further than the (grrrrrrrr ) French TGV, which has been run at a staggering 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph). And, if you think America's trains are bad, you haven't been to the UK.

It would be interesting to compare how many stops there are on the Chinese route, compared to the French and Japanese, as this will have an effect on the average speed accomplished over a route. I'm guessing the Japanese will be stop-heavy, but I'm not sure about the French or Chinese.

But the main point is that the USA could and should have a high speed cross-country rail link (or two). They need to be built from scratch, as modifying existing lines just won't cut it, but it could be done. Having ridden the Eurostar into France and Belgium, high speed trains need to be experienced to understand why they are so cool.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Galty baby, bullet train in CA is but a pipe dream. CA is close to bankruptcy, and Arnold's steroid use is finally affecting his muscle-laden brain. Fancy charts and maps are all but a big pipe dream and nothing more . If our country was serious about high speed rails, we woulda had dozens of lines by now. Clunky, funky Amtrak is all we are gonna ever have. Please don't tease us by building up false hopes.

And Pooky, knowing that France has a faster train does nothing to make us feel better here, so please just get over it.

Edited January 1, 2010 by Hopp

[DEDixon 39]

high speed trains are a waste of money in a nation of cars.

Use SF to LA as the example:

Bullet train from SF to LA, it would take 2 hours 38 minutes to get to LA, it takes 6 hours to drive to LA and if you drive, you have a car to get you places. Families won't want to use the train, because they'll have to rent a car when they arrive in LA. Not to mention that a family of 4 would have to pay for 4 tickets on train and only 1 tank of gas if going by car. A bullet train would be a better idea if LA had a good transit system in place, but LA is spread over many miles and LA doesn't have a good transit system.

If I were going to LA alone, I'd still not take the train. I don't like driving so I'd love to sit back and relax on a train, but when I get there, I'm stuck at the station where plenty of 5 dollar per mile taxis will be waiting and buses that will get you 10 miles away in 2 hours.... I'll pass on that one.

about the 2 hours, 38 minutes on the train. This doesn't include driving to the station, parking, paying for parking (no doubt!!!), waiting for the train to arrive, boarding, then waiting on the train to finally depart. I could be a quarter of the way to LA by the time the SF train leaves!!!!!

[DEDixon 39]

and don't forget, the chinese can do anything they want. they can take land, drive trains through any neighborhood, through any mountain all while telling environmentalist to shove it.

in america, just getting the path approved would eat billions; this is before any track was laid.

environmentalists would file lawsuit after lawsuit.

[SuperDuper! 230]

and don't forget, the chinese can do anything they want. they can take land, drive trains through any neighborhood, through any mountain all while telling environmentalist to shove it.

in america, just getting the path approved would eat billions; this is before any track was laid.

environmentalists would file lawsuit after lawsuit.

Yea, those tree huggers--always keeping the white man down!

[Scott & Lai 12]

Done this before in an earlier thread. This is the operating speed, not the top speed. If you want record-breaking top speed, look no further than the (grrrrrrrr ) French TGV, which has been run at a staggering 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph). And, if you think America's trains are bad, you haven't been to the UK.

It would be interesting to compare how many stops there are on the Chinese route, compared to the French and Japanese, as this will have an effect on the average speed accomplished over a route. I'm guessing the Japanese will be stop-heavy, but I'm not sure about the French or Chinese.

But the main point is that the USA could and should have a high speed cross-country rail link (or two). They need to be built from scratch, as modifying existing lines just won't cut it, but it could be done. Having ridden the Eurostar into France and Belgium, high speed trains need to be experienced to understand why they are so cool.

This one is even faster:

http://www.flixxy.com/worlds-fastest-train.htm

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I suggest internment camps for environmentalists.

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

I suggest internment camps for environmentalists.

nah, let's just go burn tires on steven's front lawn. and bring all your aluminum cans too.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

nah, let's just go burn tires on steven's front lawn. and bring all your aluminum cans too.

i like my idea better. much more evil and therefore much more satisfying.

and besides, if it happens in america who's gonna stop us? not like the french are gonna storm south beach

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

i like my idea better. much more evil and therefore much more satisfying.

and besides, if it happens in america who's gonna stop us? not like the french are gonna storm south beach

why do you want to put steven in an internment camp?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

why do you want to put steven in an internment camp?

I'd let Steven stay out since he's a friend. But all of his enviro-comrades would be on the inside, rendering him powerless.