Anaheim-Vegas maglev train project gets $45 million infusion
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted June 8th 2008 1:37AM
posted June 8th 2008 1:37AM
[Via Slashdot]
posted June 8th 2008 1:37AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I watched the news about this and Engadget is wrong here.
It will take 30 minutes from Anaheim to Las Vegas
The project will break ground in 2 years and probably take a few more years to be completed
Dear California,
Is it too much to ask for a thank you once and a while? After all, I did help pay for your new Disney to Vegas train. Something that I will never have a use for, never make up a use for, or that I would even be in the area to see drive by. But did you thank me? No. Heck, even a Wish You Were Here postcard would have been nice.
I don't know, I guess we just don't see eye to eye on things anymore. The way my parents raised me, was that if I wanted something, it was up to me to earn the money. My parents were not big on just giving me money for things because I wanted something.
I think that we are finally growing apart. Maybe if we see each other at a bar somewhere, we'll buy each other drinks, but I don't see us haning out much ever again.
PS: I guess all of our late night talks about the value of the free market meaned nothing to you. Sigh.
Dear Rocketboy,
I apologize for the delayed thank you card, but I figured it as a solid "you owe me." In fact the measly 3-5 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions upon billions of tax dollars California contributes to the government year after year. But hell, I didn't know we were keeping score (you know, one country). If so, maybe you can flip the bill for another 10 maglev trains or how about just a solid gold toilet for every resident in California. Then we can call it even.
Yours Truely,
California
Did you really help pay for this? It is quite possible that the $45 million came out of the billions that Californians pay in Federal Taxes every year. We do make up about 12% of the nation's population!
Dear Rocketboy,
Go research how much money in federal income taxes (and other economic contributions) flow out of California vs. federal spending coming in and get back to us. K? Thanks, and good luck in life.
Love, freakshow.
Dear California,
See, this is why we're having problems hanging out lately. You see, I get taxed just as much as you do, heck, I even have to have the same emission package on my car as you do. Just because I'm on the other side of the country, don't think that I've forgotten about you.
I would also like it if the fed gov't didn't take as much money from both of us. But again, you had to make it about you didn't you, when the issue you brought up is really about us. Where it's not about us is when you are wasting my money on something that you should just buy yourself. I'm not going to say that where I live does not do the same thing, but I'm not proud of it. I don't feel like you owe me anything. You on the other hand, do.
After this, I'm not sure if I'd even buy you a drink next time I see you. It sounds like you think I owe you one for simply existing.
Rocketboy
Florida has tried numerous maglev projects but has never been able to get enough political support to finish any of them. There was the plan for maglev routes inconnecting Orlando, Tampa and Miami. Disney to the airport. Port Canaveral to the Kennedy Space Center. Unfortunately some folks were dead-set against them and killed the projects.
What's interesting to note is that these lines can be used not only for passenger service, but for freight, cargo and water:
http://www.maglev2000.com/apps/applications.html
I'm with Carl. I just don't see the point of spending so much money on maglev. Its supposed superiority over conventional electric rail equates to, what is it, something like a whole 10mph over the TGV, at massive (*massive*) expense.
There's a massive existing rail infrastructure in North America. I took a lovely ride from Seattle to San Francisco for a conference last year. The only problem is, it all happened at about 50mph and took over a day. Same journey in France would've taken a few hours. Why not upgrade and revitalize the existing infrastructure that we already have - on routes that would be hugely popular if they were improved - rather than spending billions on a brand new line based on unproven technology in an undeveloped market?
It has to cost a hell of a lot more than $5,000,000,000. It is ~250 miles from LV to LA.
They wanted to build one between downtown Munich, Germany and the airport which is 17 miles and it was going to cost over 3,300,000,000 euros when it was cancelled in March 2008..
finally Call to Power is coming to fruition!
Why is the govt using my tax dollars to build this?!? Though a number of business conferences are held there, this is mainly a tourist destination. Build a double decker highway to alleviate the congestion in SoCal or invest in mass transit or air scrubbers for the smog or...
WTH. Next they'll be building a chunnel to go from L.A. to Hawaii.
"or invest in mass transit"
hey, heard of MagLev?
Yes, but I was hoping for something a little closer and more beneficial to California and it's congestion/traffic problems. I see the benefit of the tech, but this seems like we're (Federal aid portion) subsidizing Nevada's tax base through more tourism.
I'd love to see one of these high-speed trains along the Calif coast from L.A. to S.F, instead of the rickety ole Amtrack we have now. I'm sure it would ease traffic on the 101.
Ahah, a double decker highway would cost like 50 times more than a maglev. 15 Miles of Freeway in Katy, TX is already overbudget at 2.2 billion dollars. That isn't even double decker. This is fucking cheap for something that could potentially move 50,000 up to 1 million people a day.
This one is planned to use the transrapid maglev, right? Or will it be one from bombardier or some other company?
Awesome... but I still think its money that could be spent other places. Schools?! Personally I don't see the appeal with vegas but then again I dislike gambling.
Hurray, good thing i live in Los Angeles, now I can go to Vegas without having to pee in a bottle for an 8 hour trip.
8 hours? Are you going by bicycle? It's 270 miles. 8 hours means you average about 35MPH.
@rip Sadly, that's about the speed you travel when you leave for Vegas out of So.Cal on a Friday.
You can see the report here: http://www.maglev2006.com/071_Cummings/071_Cummings%20Neil_ok.pdf
They project 42 million riders annually or 115,000 daily riders. One way fare from Anaheim to Las Vegas will be 55 dollars.
The system will have the capacity to handle 240,000+ daily passengers if need be.
I live in Vegas and this would be great. We've been hearing about it for awhile but it finally seems like its on track. Especially with gas going to be hitting $5 a gallon soon. This would be much more environmental friendly and beats sitting in a car for 8 hours or having to get to the airport 2 hours early, especially with airlines trying to get every last penny out of their customers.
I look very much forward to it and sure that if its a success (which i'm fairly sure it will be), it wont be long till many more of these lines are popping up all over the country.
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Please happen. Please happen. Please happen. I live in OC and driving to Vegas was OK. WAS. That was before gas prices rocketed. I'm going to Vegas in a couple of weeks and dreading the thought of the gas bills. I priced flights, but it would be costlier than driving (two people).
Finally? The USA gets a train system that is better than india's, and you don't have to sit with the goats and sheep.
As for our military, who would have thought that the USA would spend more money than the Soviet Union! And that was a country so paranoid it spied on enemies, friends, itself, and itself once again just to be sure.
Perhaps Congress should quit bailing out the airline industry and let some of them fail, we obviously have too many jets flying around. They should also quit bailing out the auto industry, again we have too many cars for the market.
Now if they would quit bailing out bankers (bear stearns)....we obviously have too many bankers!
This is progress!!! USA needs to make a radical project nationwide with high speed trains like this one. to help reduce carbon emissions, and give people more transportation options. And for most of the cities that have a mediocre public transportation system. Obama needs to copy transportation public projects like those in London, Tokyo, Berlin, Seoul to name a few.
Global Warming is a LIE!!!!!
Dear,Rocketboy:
Although I can see your point of view, I can not understand it completely. Your perspective that you personaly are paying for this is a shining example of just how single minded and selfish many Americans have become. (Not to imply that I am a "socialist" here.) So please view things from another perspective in that either the tax you pay is funding one of the many other things that are tax funded, or how about finding a way to adapt it to where ever it is that you are so that you can benifit from it. (Hello think of how much money you could make if you were to get a deal for 1% of all the ticket sales for helping to get the thing built. Or perhaps you could get a job at the factory that makes the parts for the track or trains.) If you are not that ambitious then at least think of how much you could save on fuel for your car/truck if your city had a system like the one I posted below.
Also think of the many long term benifits that will come from getting a project like this built and proven. (You could benifit from all the savings the auto insurance industry will achieve from having to pay less in claims.) {Yes some will argue that the insurance companies will loose money but in fact they will not. having to pay out less in claims and having to pay less to the people who process those claims will increse profits for the insurance companies and Smart ones will pass on some of that in the form of lower rates to attract more business. For those people that will lose a job they can become accountans for the company that opperates the transportation system.} The benifits far exceed what are explained in this article, and many others are sugesting in the comments.
Gas bills for cars stuck in trafic are talked about from a selfish point of view. (Yes I know that you are not the one that talked about gas bills.)
When the "big picture" is taken into account that the money spent to import the crude oil for those gas bills, or to fuel the more expensive aircraft. Think of what will come if all that money is spent here at home insted of going out of country. (One thing that money could be used for is to improve the education system.) Think of all the new revenue streams that will happen and will offset the initial cost of building this.
Now to make this project a little more appealing to the critics how about taking a look at this
http://www.unimodal.com/
and think of the many more benifits adapting this system that can happen. This type of system is more appealing to people because it is more individualized, it costs less to build, it allows for more adaptability to expand and further reduce trafic (and use of imported oil.) This system also reduces the need for large parking lots at a few places. One example that I can think of is: With the large train system if something happens to prevent a worker from catching the train that person will be late for work. With the better system that peoson will just take the next car and still make it to work on time.
According to Pitch's figures the Maglev train will generate $12,650,000 per day ($4,617,250,000 per year.) if a round trip is calculated. Meaning that for the projected $5 billion construction cost would be paid off in just over one year, less opperating cost I'm guesing that would add a year or two to the pay off time, and would be a new revenue stream for the many years after. Little friction = low maintainance/opperating costs and long life.)
Hey OneEyedHito: To inject more truth into your statement try saying that humans neither caused or can prevent Global Warming and start marketing the "green" movement as a way to stop spending our money to enrich other countries. All the money that is spent to import oil needs to be kept here at home.
Dear,Rocketboy:
Although I can see your point of view, I can not understand it
completely. Your perspective that you personaly are paying for this
is a shining example of just how single minded and selfish many
Americans have become. (Not to imply that I am a "socialist" here.)
So please view things from another perspective in that either the tax
you pay is funding one of the many other things that are tax funded,
or how about finding a way to adapt it to where ever it is that you
are so that you can benifit from it. (Hello think of how much money
you could make if you were to get a deal for 1% of all the ticket
sales for helping to get the thing built. Or perhaps you could get a
job at the factory that makes the parts for the track or trains.) If
you are not that ambitious then at least think of how much you could
save on fuel for your car/truck if your city had a system like the
one I posted below.
Also think of the many long term benifits that will come from getting
a project like this built and proven. (You could benifit from all the
savings the auto insurance industry will achieve from having to pay
less in claims.) {Yes some will argue that the insurance companies
will loose money but in fact they will not. having to pay out less in
claims and having to pay less to the people who process those claims
will increse profits for the insurance companies and Smart ones will
pass on some of that in the form of lower rates to attract more
business. For those people that will lose a job they can become
accountans for the company that opperates the transportation system.}
The benifits far exceed what are explained in this article, and many
others are sugesting in the comments.
Gas bills for cars stuck in trafic are talked about from a selfish
point of view. (Yes I know that you are not the one that talked about
gas bills.)
When the "big picture" is taken into account that the money spent to
import the crude oil for those gas bills, or to fuel the more
expensive aircraft. Think of what will come if all that money is
spent here at home insted of going out of country. (One thing that
money could be used for is to improve the education system.) Think of
all the new revenue streams that will happen and will offset the
initial cost of building this.
Now to make this project a little more appealing to the critics how
about taking a look at this
http://www.unimodal.com/
and think of the many more benifits adapting this system that can
happen. This type of system is more appealing to people because it is
more individualized, it costs less to build, it allows for more
adaptability to expand and further reduce trafic (and use of imported
oil.) This system also reduces the need for large parking lots at a
few places. One example that I can think of is: With the large train
system if something happens to prevent a worker from catching the
train that person will be late for work. With the better system that
peoson will just take the next car and still make it to work on time.
According to Pitch's figures the Maglev train will generate
$12,650,000 per day ($4,617,250,000 per year.) if a round trip is
calculated. Meaning that for the projected $5 billion construction
cost would be paid off in just over one year, less opperating cost
I'm guesing that would add a year or two to the pay off time, and
would be a new revenue stream for the many years after. Little
friction = low maintainance/opperating costs and long life.)
Hey OneEyedHito: To inject more truth into your statement try saying
that humans neither caused or can prevent Global Warming and start
marketing the "green" movement as a way to stop spending our money to
enrich other countries. All the money that is spent to import oil
needs to be kept here at home.
Check this out, according to the Las Vegas Sun: “The Federal Railroad Administration ‘has made neither an award nor an announcement with regard to funding for maglev development in Nevada,’ a spokesman said.”
Also, interesting reading at:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/maglev-train-plan-takes-a-puzzling-turn-59721052.html
http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralstons-flash/2009/sep/17/feds-gibbons-wrong-maglev-funding/