myrmepropagandistDare. To. Dream. Big.
(Via thecuriousurbanist and amtrak Official tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/futurebird/735017224980594688/image-description-this-would-literally-destroy?source=share)
Floaty Birb@futurebird I met an Armenian professor who was Gorbachev's translator during a visit to Japan who wanted to build a worldwide high speed rail network that included a bridge between Siberia and Alaska in order to encourage world peace. So like you could take a train from New York to Berlin via Moscow.
It seemed like a cool idea even if current geopolitics might not be amenable to it.
sabik@floatybirb @futurebird
One problem with a bridge across the Bering Strait is that there's nothing on either side to connect; you're building from Yakutsk (Nizhny Bestyakh) to Hazelton, Canada
One problem with a bridge across the Bering Strait is that there's nothing on either side to connect; you're building from Yakutsk (Nizhny Bestyakh) to Hazelton, Canada
@sabik @futurebird Yes, this Bering Strait bridge plan could qualify as an extreme case of transit-oriented development.
A cool crab wearing shades@futurebird this would be so good
Sam Levine@futurebird I feel like an even bigger win would be if they did it by putting the HSR lines right down the center lanes of I-95 on the east coast. Let all of the people on the train laugh at the traffic. And maybe actually narrow the turnpike...
ironwoodcall@SRLevine @futurebird would absolutely be a funny, but I'm pretty sure a maglev (or even a conventional HST) would need a much flatter and straighter alignment than the freeway. Now, if we simply raze it on the other hand...
Draken BlackKnight@futurebird
I am all for this.
Another loop connecting Detroit, Michican's upper peninsula, SE Wisconsin, Chicago, and all the way down to Texas and New Orleans is also needed.
@futurebird
The main problem would be the border crossings. You'd need to show your passport/enhanced ID to do so.
The more realistic option would be to build a loop from Albany all the way down to Jacksonville FL, use the Sunset Limited tracks that have been closed since Hurricane Katrina and move over to NOLA, up to Chicago, and back to Albany with new regional rail lines connecting the cities inside and just outside of that loop to the loop.
🚲@futurebird Shit I’d move back to Ontario if they did this, and I really hate Ontario (no offense Ontarians, I love you guys)
Orc@futurebird maglev? Ew.
Not required IMO. Just do regular rail and HS rail on the long bits.
@futurebird Not even HS rail; Twin Cities Hiawatha speeds would be good enough, though a lot of that loop would need a lot of trackwork to bring it up to O.G. Milwaukee Road standards!
lampsofgold@futurebird shift the line north through hartford but yes
Moved to @@futurebird Good: Pittsburgh is on the loop.
Ross of Ottawa@futurebird gotta do it! Only need to ensure Ottawa is on the express loop as well – makes more sense having both national capitals involved for all the gov activities.
Fan of Shared Truth & Empathy@futurebird @Andres4NY Now THIS is some infrastructure that should be made real.
Jeff Zugale - Z Factory@futurebird isn’t most of this track already in existence? I know, not all high speed, but couldn’t this loop be executed with a few new special connections, and with conventional trains, now-ish?
😀🚲@futurebird anything is possible if cities will ever charge enough for car #parking (like as much as market rate rent)
bbbhltzMy comments will bring nothing to the conversation but...
High-speed rail is SO convenient. Every time I take the TGV in France you can look around and see the first-timers minds' being blown.
No trekking away from the city centre to wait in line and get patted down. WiFi. Food wagon. Kids enjoy it. You can bring your own food and drinks!
Eric McCorkle@futurebird Yes please!
Philip Brewer@futurebird Plus, there's already a fairly fast train from Detroit to Chicago, which gets you to within a couple hours of my house.
Florida Ted@futurebird See more details at transitmap.net/north-east-magl…
Madame Pres commandasaurus 🦖@futurebird Let's do it. Put the stations right next to the regional airports for smaller hubs to centralize infrastructure, including border screenings. Property taxes in the region for non-primary homes would pay for this in a very very short time.
Lawrence Miller@futurebird I certainly love the dream.
About 15 years ago,I rode from Toronto to Philadelphia. The train halted at the border, US CBP boarded the train and cleared everyone on the train before it was allowed to start moving again.
To be successful, this route would need to run several times a day at very predictable intervals. Given that each lap around the loop includes two international border crossings, this adds another layer of difficulty.
Anton P. Nym (aka Steve)@futurebird I liked this idea even before I learned that my current city of residence (London, ON) would be a stop on it. Now I'm sold hard; where do I send my investment dollars to make this happen?
dave@futurebird add an interior toronto-nyc-boston triangle by upgrading existing rail lines and then we'll really be cookin
TheSecondVariation