It will be nice to have, I guess, but the trains are not going to be running at high speeds while they're in city limits. We Californians strive to be a stupid as possible when it comes to things high speed. There is always a story to be told of idiot drivers who run red lights and ram into the Orange Line buses and Blue Line light rails because they were too much in a hurry.

Don't even begin to talk about things related to budgets. Our state's government is struggling to deal with a large deficit this year (which is turning into a yearly event we all have come to love and cherish). While perhaps californians will feel compelled to sign up for yet another state bond, I am inclined to think that autonomous robots will walk this earth far before this high speed train idea gets its funding.

Forget San Francisco, we need one from Southern Cali to Vegas, now there is a good reason for a fast train!!!

I hope this comes to pass, but these projects tend to have a history of getting squashed by regional airlines that like the large amounts of money they get on these short hops. Thats what happened the past few times they tried to build one from LA to Vegas.

Weebork: From my understanding most of the $10 billion he mentioned goes to "grade separation." Basically building over-passes or under-passes wherever the tracks cross a road to remove the danger of stupid people trying to beat the train. As for getting that money, ya that will be tough.

2030!!!

wow, are they planning to constuct this with half a dozen people?!

good god, a project like that (with full funding) should take UNDER a decade.

I have been waiting for this forever. I have family in San Diego but live about 1 hour north of San Francisco. 2030 huh? It will be a miracle if they build this at all.

You got your facts wrong. First, the SF-Anaheim trunk line will be built by 2018-2020, it's the spurs to San Diego and Sacramento, respectively, that will take a little longer.

Second, the trunk line will cost $30 billion to build, of which 1/3 will come from a CA state GO bond (if approved by voters this November), 1/3 from Washington and 1/3 from private investors. The spurs will be funded by a combination of private investors and operating revenue. Based on Acela in the Northeast Corridor and HSR in many other countries, the California system is expected to be quite profitable at ticket prices well below those for short-hop flights.

@ weebork -

the proposal includes the construction of new high-quality dual track dedicated to HSR in virtually the entire system. Most trains will travel at lower speeds between SF and SJ and between Sylmar and Anaheim, but that's mostly because they have to stop more frequently. It takes 4-5 min and 18 miles to reach top speed! Only about 1/4 of all trains will be SF-Fresno-LA express trains, but that's still over 20 a day each way.

@ cdaveygo -

Sen. Harry Reid and others are currently still pushing a maglev system linking Anaheim and Las Vegas. This technology is even more expensive, incompatible with standard gauge and only a single commercial service exists in Shanghai. A competing project called DesertXPress would run diesel trains at 125mph between Victorville and Las Vegas. If Californians approve the $9.95 billion HSR bond, both of these might be discarded in favor of a third spur from Mojave to Las Vegas. It would still have to be funded by the state of Nevada, the Feds and private investors, but it would leverage the entire California HSR system, minimize mountain crossings and allow the two states to pool their purchasing power for infrastructure and rolling stock.

The US started out leading the world with trains 100 years ago, now it is sadly a mess.

What the US really needs to do is create a linked cross country MAGLEV system that links all major cities and also has lines that criss-cross the country for rapid transit.

It has become very obvious that the airline industry here is a mess and so many people now drive as opposed to flying due to all the restrictions, cancellations of flights, etc....

The MAGLEV system is proven, it is very fast and can only get faster. It is quiet, works in any climate/condition and is a far superior technology.

The US made a bold move back in the 50's when it started creating the Interstate system linking everything together so well. Now it is time they step up to the plate and take this next step. If we don't have a system for getting people from point A to point B within 20 years we will not only be a sad excuse for innovation and advancement but we will have fallen behind so many other countries that we will no longer be thought of in terms of respect.

Having grown up in Ca.. I seem to recall something about a highspeed train to Vegas once before.. The powers that be..(ie Indian Casinos). shot that GREAT idea down fast

The french TGVs do not operate regular service at their top speeds. Even though they reached 577km/h, they operate at about 300km/h (this is raised some on the new line).

There are issues with emergency braking overheating wheels for instance that prevent higher speeds for normal service carrying passengers.

Also, each train's power consumption is measured in megawatts (I think about 8 if I remember correctly). This increases significantly when you raise the speeds, and if you want to run multiple trains at the same time, you need the power distribution that will support it.

200mph (statute miles) is 320km/h which is comparable to current TGV operating speeds. The big question is whether these california trains would be able to sustain those speeds on the majority of the distance or whether they will only be able to reach those speeds on short stretches.

WHAT ARE WE HERE IN ORANCE COUNTY? CHOPPED LIVER? YES, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN O.C. DO GO TO LOS ANGELES. DAH!