The Train and Railway Thread - CHOO CHOO!

Why would you post this to yackfest? You are just begging for a derail.

I have never seen a train, I don't think they really exist and are just a rumor.

I do not recall seeing any trains while I was down there in the Norfolk area. I am sure they were there, I just did not see them.. We mostly stayed in and around the Va. Beach area though and stuck to downtown Norfolk and the area where the ships were all docked. It was sorta awe inspiring seeing all those destroyers and carriers and knowing just in the area right there was enough firepower to take out all but a couple of countries militarys .

edited 27th Aug '13 1:41:31 PM by RainbowMatt

I see what you did there.

-throws tomato-

One of the many obstacles to improved passenger rail in the United States.

That's a well-engineered pun.

I like trains.

Anyway

Trains in Britain are good and bad, but mostly shitty. Rail is underfunded here.

A flight from Birmingham (where I live) to Glasgow is £35 return, within a week. A train from Birmingham to Glasgow for the same time period is £119.

Intra-city trains aren't that bad (if you don't have a metropolitan tram system [like Newcastle or Sheffield] or a metro system [like Gtr London or Glasgow], but inter-city trains have varying levels of terribleness.

Too many transportation planners think modes are rigid and allow no mixture. Like how all commuter trains must be bilevel diesel trains that stop infrequently and all streetcars must share traffic with cars and stuff.

edited 28th Aug '13 4:57:06 PM by MikuruFan

The Baltimore Light Rail gets track of it's own without worrying about cars.

That's light rail, not streetcar. There's a subtle distinction, mainly the weight of the train and whether it has its own ROW.

I think streetcars can run on its own ROW in less dense areas, where station spacing is greater and they may want to pick up speed.

There is a streetcar under construction on H Street in Washington. I recall people are concerned overhead wires will clutter the atmosphere.

edited 28th Aug '13 5:06:04 PM by MikuruFan

Speaking of which, D.C. is getting it's own light rail/streetcar it seems.

Yep.

And it looks like Georgetown's going to be served by it.

And H St.

I didn't see any in Georgetown, though.

edited 28th Aug '13 6:48:26 PM by PhysicalStamina

Plan. Black lines seem to be streetcar.◊

Just mentioned it.

The tracks and stations seem to be there already, judging by satellite imagery.

edited 28th Aug '13 6:49:46 PM by MikuruFan

Well yeah, I've seen tracks and stations on H St., but none in lower Georgetown.

Then again I haven't been there in a while.

I see no tracks on Georgetown's M St, where it would be most likely. That's just in the plan, and most of the plan is not actually built yet.

@Hopey

If you want cheap inter-city tickets, then you have to book in advance. If you book far enough in advance, they are a steal, especially when you consider that you can just turn up and get on a train, whilst air travel is so Kafkaesque these days. Not to mention, planes are so frightfully gauche dahlink.

As for rail in Britain, it's less to do with underfunding and more to do with a ridiculously badly handled privatization.

edited 29th Aug '13 1:19:27 AM by Achaemenid

Is there a revenue line for passengers between Calgary and Ralston in Southern Alberta? I know there is a freight line that transports big massive armored vehicles and tanks for use in the military training area near Ralston but I am not sure about the passenger use of the line.

Searches for Ralston Via rail and Ralston train turn up nothing.

I'm off to the Cowal Highland Gathering this weekend, which means lots of train - Edinburgh Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street, Glasgow Central to Gourock, then a ferry. Should be nice.

Went to Didcot Railway Centre about 3 weeks ago- got some photos.

I remember a looooong time ago, Mum and I would get the train to a nearby town. I don't remember how much it cost us, but I remember taking the train because I wanted to take the train.

Great photos!

Right now, I'm planning out a modern commuter rail system in Los Angeles that's modeled on those in Japan.

This article makes my point that rail modes are not rigid

-facepalm- That's merican thinking right there