Re:Regional Air Mobility: Why we don’t plan to operate fligh...
by pcl on Friday July 24, 2020 @04:41PM
(#23944190)
The rail tracks in much of the western states are owned by the freight industry, and Amtrak leases time on them. As a result, the tracks and schedules are freight-oriented, not passenger-oriented.
This means the tracks are not graded for high-speed relative lightweight passenger rolling stock. Also, the passenger trains need to fit into the schedules dictated by the freight traffic.
Which is really a shame. The track from SF through Lake Tahoe runs just past Sugar Bowl and into Truckee, and is about 180 miles. A ski train would be really easy.
This means the tracks are not graded for high-speed relative lightweight passenger rolling stock. Also, the passenger trains need to fit into the schedules dictated by the freight traffic.
Which is really a shame. The track from SF through Lake Tahoe runs just past Sugar Bowl and into Truckee, and is about 180 miles. A ski train would be really easy.