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1. Embed this notice
   Peter Bronez (peterbronez@hachyderm.io)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 00:08:26 JST Peter Bronez

   • patter

   @patterfloof I would love to have more trains in the US. They face a lot of practical headwinds though, if only because we have a ton of good car infrastructure.

   • Embed this notice
     feld (feld@friedcheese.us)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 00:08:24 JST feld

     in reply to

     • patter
     • John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺
     @johnlogic @PeterBronez @patterfloof there's no way we're going to be able to build new rail infrastructure dedicated to passenger transportation in most of the USA. The land owners will *not* sell.
     
     So we're stuck with sharing rail with freight, and Just In Time freight tactics are abusing rail access by ensuring the trains are too long to take the passing sidings, so the passenger trains will *always* have to pull off and wait for the freight to pass.
   • Embed this notice
     John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺 (johnlogic@sfba.social)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 00:08:25 JST John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺

     in reply to

     • patter

     @PeterBronez @patterfloof

     Trains are the most energy efficient transportation mode over land. (Boats can be more efficient where there's water.)

     But the US subsides its auto and airline industries.

     If we made them pay their own way, the economy of rail travel would make it attractive again.

   • Embed this notice
     Peter Bronez (peterbronez@hachyderm.io)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 00:08:26 JST Peter Bronez

     in reply to

     • patter

     @patterfloof

     At the regional level, Interstate highways + big, comfortable cars + lots of parking mean driving is usually the fastest, cheapest and most convenient way to get somewhere. By the time driving is annoying, you might as well fly… and rent a car once you get there.

   • Embed this notice
     John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺 (johnlogic@sfba.social)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 03:00:24 JST John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺

     in reply to

     • patter
     • feld

     @feld @PeterBronez @patterfloof

     The US already has the rail rights-of-way it needs. It also has "eminent domain" laws that allow the government to buy for "fair market value" any land it wants for any purpose that would benefit many, such as shopping malls and sports arenas.

     Since the introduction of the automobile and airlines, the US has lacked the will to keep effective passenger rail services, from the Los Angeles streetcars to the transcontinental lines.

   • Embed this notice
     feld (feld@friedcheese.us)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 03:00:24 JST feld

     in reply to

     • patter
     • John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺
     @johnlogic @PeterBronez @patterfloof
     
     > The US already has the rail rights-of-way it needs.
     
     What does this mean? That we don't need any additional land? How is that possible when in some places the law requires 400ft of space around the rail?
     
     
     > It also has "eminent domain" laws
     
     Don't even. This will get wrapped up in courts for decades. We all know it, that's why it's not being used.
   • Embed this notice
     John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺 (johnlogic@sfba.social)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 04:41:16 JST John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺

     in reply to

     • patter
     • feld

     @feld @PeterBronez @patterfloof

     The case about reversion is interesting and certainly reasonable; I see it as balancing the power of eminent domain and squatters' rights, albeit in favor of the previous owner.

     The 2011 Colorado Law Review article looks interesting and will take me some time to read. Thank you for sharing it.

     However, eminent domain laws work, are regularly upheld, and are being used right now to build California's high-speed railway system.

     https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-11-30/state-appeals-court-rejects-challenge-to-bullet-train-project

   • Embed this notice
     feld (feld@friedcheese.us)'s status on Thursday, 05-Sep-2024 04:41:16 JST feld

     in reply to

     • patter
     • John Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺
     @johnlogic @PeterBronez @patterfloof but recognize that this high speed rail project was started in 2008, John Tos filed the lawsuit in 2011, the case was originally tried in 2014, and didn't get stopped in appeals until 2021.
     
     This could repeat in every state.
     
     Why would anyone want to invest in a project that is going to take that much time and legal struggles? Most would balk at the idea.