4mo ago

California launches electric trains as US lags behind world in rail electrification

47 comments

One guy had too much oil propaganda
- Ever seen a gas powered gas pump? Me neither.
- One of the reasons I am an atheist. I mean what was God thinking making these morons?
- Do they really think the 30 computers in their car will survive an EMP?
  
  or the oil infrastructure?
- In California? They have black outs every summer. The power going out is a valid concern
  
  Lived in California (SoCal and Bay Area) my entire 42 years.
  No, we don't.
  There was a short, planned outage in my neighborhood (San Diego suburbs) last summer - we got a few days notice (can't recall if it was a letter or an email). Didn't have one the summer before that. I don't recall any power outages when I lived in the Bay Area.
  
  If the power goes out there will be no signalling on the tracks, no barriers or traffic lights at level crossings, no lights or announcements at train stations, etc.
  Even though a diesel locomotive technically could run with no external power, no regular train will be operating during a general power outage.
  Same goes for an EMP, even though that would likely fry the diesel locos control systems anyways
  
  Are you thinking of Texas?
  
  As usual, you have no clue what you're talking about.
  
  Blackout as in the city lights going out or the whole state grid failing?

You tend to lag behind when your laws are bought by corporate interests keen on keeping it the same

Till 2019, <1 % of total rail in US was electrified according to Wikipedia? Is this true; considering that US was a world leader in terms of rail transport upto WW II, why the abysmally low numbers? I know that privatisation of rail networks and car centred cities makes life tough for rails, but 1 % is abysmally low for a developed nation.
In contrast, China is at 75% and India is at 93% respectively and both of them also have giant railway networks.
- The WW II US rail network is loonnnnggggg gone and doesn't really have any effect on the modern day. What remains is mostly freight rail run by a few oversized rail corporations... and they're surely in no hurry to abandon their diesel engines.
  There's also not huge political pressure because rail is already a very efficient way to transport goods. Spreading rail would have better effects than electrifying rail.
- considering that US was a world leader in terms of rail transport upto WW II, why the abysmally low numbers?
  We spent all our rail money on the interstate highways and their exorbitant maintenance costs.
- They’re probably not counting subways. It may even be just intercity rail, which mostly supports freight. You have thousands of miles of freight rail crossing the entire country, and only the Acela passenger track in the northeast is electrified
- Till
  ‘til*, short for “until.”
  Sorry to be that asshole but it’s frustrating how often this is misused.
  
  You are wrong, till is perfectly fine – and so is til. See Merriam-Websters article about this, at https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/should-you-use-until-or-till-or-til
  
  this might be a regional thing. I've never once in my life seen it spelled that was. to me til had only ever been an acronym for "today I learned"

What you mean like any sane country already did?
- India is at 95% and Switzerland at 99%. PS. Just found it in random news article so numbers might not be correct.

Electric trains‽ that will never work, trains need to be loud and dirty.
- What the hell is this: ‽
  
  It’s an interrobang‽

I read that as "California launches electric trains at US..." and I was confused.
- I read your comment as "…electric trains AF…"
- That's just Oprah giving out free shit again
  
  🏃🐝🏃‍♂️🐝🏃‍♀️🐝

Mention trains and US becomes a Joke!
- Same with “cars” tbh.
  Or “street cars.”
  Or “high speed rail”
  Or “public transport”
  Man, there’s a lot…
- TBH you could mention almost anyting and US would be a joke.

I'm happy for a new streetcar line that is almost done in my area. My happiness is pretty pathetic and sad.
- Your happiness is valid 🙂

wouldn't be so far behind if muskrat didn't set us behind by about a decade due to his monorail project

The rail lines...
The two new trains are operated by Caltrain... The trains were put into regular service the following day, running along the route between San Jose and San Francisco.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218547/caltrain-electric-train-us-lags-behind-india-china-eu

47 comments