High Speed Rails

Railroad system in the US is far behind the rest of the world that we are the third world now.

Only recently, California is working on the propose of building a 465-mile high speed rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles. At this moment, there is not even a direct rail road from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

A San Francisco Chronicle report listed some interesting data:

• Japan - Shinkansen/Bullet Train
  Year started: 1964, Miles: 1,400, Top speed: 186 mph
• Italy - Treno Alta Velocita
  Year started: 1978, Miles: 500, Top speed: 186 mph
• France - TGV
  Year started: 1981, Miles: 1,100, Top speed: 199 mph
• Spain - AVE
  Year started: 1992, Miles: 800, Top speed: 186 mph
• Germany - ICE (InterCity Express)
  Year started: 1991, Miles: 800, Top speed: 186 mph
• South Korea - KTX
  Year started: 2004, Miles: 160, Top speed: 200 mph
• China - China Railway High-Speed
  Year started: 2007, Miles: 4,100, Top speed: 217 mph
  

Shinkansen in Japan


TGV in France


China Railway High-Speed

In the US, the only existing high-speed-rail is Acela Express, which serves along the Northeast Corridor. The highest speed they attain is 150 mph:



Can we become more pathetic?