Ya ive been on the brightline in Florida and was a good experience. Seems like if you have competent governance (which we should be shooting for) then you can have a good option. it just shouldn't be that hard.

The United States has built an entire country full of high speed rail in China, but can't build a few miles at home.

94chem said:

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The United States has built an entire country full of high speed rail in China, but can't build a few miles at home.

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We're not allowed to use slaves in the US...

I used to think HSR would be a great thing in TX, but I've come around to realizing that it just won't work here.

I've only used HSR in Italy, but we didn't have a rental and used trains to get around the country in our 2-week trip and used the buses in Rome once we finally figured that out.

In Texas we would need a huge amount of light rail infrastructure just to get people from the burbs to the train hub and then to a huge amount of parking at the train hubs themselves in absence of light rail service for other areas.

I've been asked more than once to come on as environmental manager/consultant for HSR and I always turn it down. It's hard enough talking to landowners and adjacent passers-by when you are working on solar or wind or God forbid battery or data center projects.

I recall the anti-HSR signs that were prolific in central Texas 10+years ago and always had to make damn sure the landowner knew what I was there for which was (at the time) usually flood control, utilities, or other projects that would benefit the LO.

In a nutshell, if it worked here it would be great. But it ain't gonna work here, ever (unless they ban cars or something)

Tree Hugger said:

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I used to think HSR would be a great thing in TX, but I've come around to realizing that it just won't work here.

I've only used HSR in Italy, but we didn't have a rental and used trains to get around the country in our 2-week trip and used the buses in Rome once we finally figured that out.

In Texas we would need a huge amount of light rail infrastructure just to get people from the burbs to the train hub and then to a huge amount of parking at the train hubs themselves in absence of light rail service for other areas.

I've been asked more than once to come on as environmental manager/consultant for HSR and I always turn it down. It's hard enough talking to landowners and adjacent passers-by when you are working on solar or wind or God forbid battery or data center projects.

I recall the anti-HSR signs that were prolific in central Texas 10+years ago and always had to make damn sure the landowner knew what I was there for which was (at the time) usually flood control, utilities, or other projects that would benefit the LO.

In a nutshell, if it worked here it would be great. But it ain't gonna work here, ever (unless they ban cars or something)

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Ban cars?

New world odor.

Sumlins Pool Guy said:

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I just dont understand using lack of urban density to reject rail, while saying we need more plane routes. I also dont get the taxpayer argument. Airlines have to be constantly bailed out, airports are funded by taxpayers. Highways are built by tax payers. Thats what makes it infrastructure.

I would take a train to Houston for work probably twice a month instead of trying to perfectly time meetings to reduce traffic or deal with the disaster SWA has become (not to mention that houstons airports couldn't be less conveniently located).

Dallas to houston is almost the exact same distance as Orlando to Miami and Brightline is doing the direct trains in just under 3 Hours. I would take it every time knowing that you save some time and can get some work done, but most importantly you remove the 20% of the time where you have an extra 45 minutes in traffic

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The last time I dealt with a bright line train, it was either three or five hours late. And there was no weather.

94chem said:

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The United States has built an entire country full of high speed rail in China, but can't build a few miles at home.

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You know who built the transcontinental railroad in the USA, right?

https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/hallofhonor/2014_railroad

annie88 said:

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Gavin Newsom wasn’t going to bring it up himself so Bill Maher just came right out and asked him.

In doing so, Maher forced the admission.

MAHER: “Is there anything you’re going to say California was too far left on?”

“Because I feel like if you don’t, I think a lot of the… pic.twitter.com/zjsoCGbCWd

— Overton (@overton_news) May 2, 2026

Bill Maher just ended Gavin Newsom’s political career in 46 seconds pic.twitter.com/QowF7wGQ5r

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) May 2, 2026

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Live by the Train. Die by the train.

The Irish?

94chem said:

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The United States has built an entire country full of high speed rail in China, but can't build a few miles at home.

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China is ass hoe.

I took the HSR from the south of France to Paris. It was a nightmare. Especially when they announced in French only what stops had to get off and switch trains. It's a different culture there, no one was in a hurry for anything so no one cared we were 4 hours late. I can't imagine that in the US going over so smooth with the passengers.

RogerFurlong said:

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I took the HSR from the south of France to Paris. It was a nightmare. Especially when they announced in French only what stops had to get off and switch trains. It's a different culture there, no one was in a hurry for anything so no one cared we were 4 hours late. I can't imagine that in the US going over so smooth with the passengers.

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Um, have you ever ridden Amtrak?