I was surprised to find out (in 2009, may have since changed) that there wasn't a daily train between SF (and surrounds, pop 8M) and LA (and surrounds, pop 20M). I had to get a bus to Bakersfield before I could hop on a train.
Re:SF’s Housing Crisis Explained
by leapinglemur55 on Tuesday April 15, 2014 @05:41AM
(#7591032)
That's mostly a problem with the terrain geography in the area (trains can't easily cross the grapevine without a tunnel underneath it or a much longer travel time).
Re:SF’s Housing Crisis Explained
by selectodude on Tuesday April 15, 2014 @12:20PM
(#7592696)
You can take the train directly to Oakland, but not San Francisco.
My Bakersfield train ended up in Oakland, and I had to get the bus over the bridge to finish the journey. There didn't appear to be a train direct from LA to the same location. Again, this was a few years ago, so things may have changed. Or it may have been seasonal.
After all, teleconferencing all the time is not the only alternative to everyone living in the same city. People could actually travel for important meetings from time to time.
A best-of-the-class high-speed train (300mph+, not the pathetic 200mph version they're talking about) should be able to get you from Portland to SF, or from LA to SF, in two hours flat. Even better, you'll be able to work during those two hours.