Peace Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 IMO, yes. There's zero security getting onto trains. Unless there's some "hidden" security that we don't see. The "getting on" is not even worth protecting. You can do a ton of damage attacking the rails...I think that's what ETA did 5-6 years ago in Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
....lybob Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 IMO, yes. There's zero security getting onto trains. Unless there's some "hidden" security that we don't see. Amtrak train stations- they are dangerously depressing and seem to be located in places that give you a good chance at being mugged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviF Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Amtrak train stations- they are dangerously depressing and seem to be located in places that give you a good chance at being mugged My head is on a swivel every time I go to the Rochester station. Albany station isn't so bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 (edited) Amtrak train stations- they are dangerously depressing and seem to be located in places that give you a good chance at being mugged True in podunk towns because no one would ever want to live near train tracks. Opposite in big cities. Edited February 11, 2011 by Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 True in podunk towns because no one would ever want to live near train tracks. Opposite in big cities. I don't know... The one in Depew isn't bad. Now the one in Hammond, Indiana isn't really that bad... Then again it is right next to the casino. Now in podunk towns, I tend to believe they are even better. I live a quarter mile from the tracks... I am not sure if it is the bad side or good side... Heck, the guy I am working with lives with in feet of train tracks and he lives in Chicago proper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCinBuffalo Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) Yes... I fear your "blasts". If that helps you sleep at night, by all means I'm shaking over here. The thought of your stinging rhetoric leaves me chilled. ..whatever. See that's sarcasm. It's kinda like how I might write a post expressing several arguments as to why the high speed train wouldn't work and then end with a ... yeah but what the hell spend the money anyway statement. It's how I might respond to Wacka's correction that's its billion, not million's of dollars. See a sarcastic response to further illustrate the absurdity of it would be... "Million.. Billion what's the the difference? Just move a few zeroes around." You, on one hand, would over react and claim how crazy a notion that is and conclude that I'm a tax and spend liberal that's lost touch with reality. A more rational, thinking person would read that and think obviously this guy is joking and let it go. Tip: one way you can usually pick up on sarcasm is when someone trivializes an outlandish statement. You say what about everyone else that's worried about spending the money. I should listen to them. I don't know any poll numbers for whatever good they may be, but for the sake of argument, what if the majority of people on the east coast want to spend the money? Shouldn't their voices be heard? Is yours the only one that matters? At one point, I recall arguing with someone here about building sand barriers in the gulf to keep the oil off the coast. Well, I thought it was a waste of money, as it turns out, it was. But, enough people supported and argued for it that they took my tax dollars and wasted it on a project that did absolutely nothing to keep oil off the LA coast. The lesson is we can't all, always get what we want. For every thing you don't want the government to do, there's someone out there that wants it done. Who's right? Who's wrong? That changes from day to day. I'm sure you disagree with that because you're always right and have all the bestest answers. As Wacka pointed out, we're talking $53Billion with a B, so yes I'm sure the 4X53Million is a good starting point. Doing some googling, the best I could find is that from 1971-2009, Amtrak got $5 billion from USDOT and $4Billion of that went to the Northeast Corridor. So, you gotta figure the Acela Express got the lion's share of that. So let's estimate it's cost at $2-3 Billion. Interestingly, Amtrak says the Acela Express is the only one of it's lines that make a profit. Making about $300million/year in 2005. I'm not sure what any of this has to do with anything other than to point to the massive amounts of money that have been spent on the Acela train, already. But none of it really addresses the concerns that I and others have brought up regarding the success of a high speed train. That's ok though, because I'm sure you've stopped reading and already prepared your response to rant about me wanting to spend Billions of your money now on something that I've clearly said I doubt will be successful. Of course I'm right, and here's why: Life is about results. Amtrak, and the Federal Government in general, fails way more than it succeeds, to get the results that are = to the money we spend on them. Profit? Are you serious? Acela charges 2x, or close, to what the regular train does. So, it stands to reason that it would make more $$$ for doing the exact same thing. The problem is: what if we create the simple result of "work properly, on time, and only be late/cancelled once in a month"? Acela will fail 2x as often as the regular train, and neither will make that standard. Charging me $200 for an Acela ticket, and then being late 30% of the time '= Results. You may be profitable, but you still suck. There's a time to say: "put more $$$ into it, and that will push it over the top". But, there's also a time to say: "we are throwing good money after bad here, and the current management structure, and possibly the management themselves, need to be changed and/or we need to clean house and get some people in here who are committed to the effort". There's also a time to say": "Bottom line, we suck at this business model, and either we have to get a new one, or we have to get out of this business completely." What to say is 100% dependent on the type of results you are getting. This is a straightforward concept. If some dopes that represent 20% of the population(um, liberals) come along and tell us that they want to do something that hasn't gotten results for years, or that we know won't get results, why God's name should we care about their opinion? (I'm still buzzing, so my tolerance for this stupidity is long gone). Edited February 13, 2011 by OCinBuffalo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 The "getting on" is not even worth protecting. You can do a ton of damage attacking the rails...I think that's what ETA did 5-6 years ago in Spain. That was my point... How does the infrastructure stay secure? That is the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 Another one bites the dust: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17rail.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/washington/article368275.ece “We understand that this investment will more than pay for itself with the jobs created for Americans in need of work, and opportunities it creates for future growth,” Slaughter said. “Our goal is going to be to educate the community so they understand the importance of moving the project forward,” said Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 "Our goal is going to be to educate the community so they understand the importance of moving the project forward my ability to get millions in kickbacks and have an unlimited supply of patronage jobs," said Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla. Fixed. Cue some liberal moron to jump in and defend this unfathomable boondoggle for no other reason than it was brought to us by The Messiah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 If Sleazy Weezy Salughter is promoting it, it's a fiscal boondoggle of the first order. Nuf said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_In_Norfolk Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 If high speed rail can't survive on it's own business plan without tax payer help and bail outs then it does not deserve to succeed Does that go for nuclear power, also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Does that go for nuclear power, also? So how long have you been anxiously waiting to ride The Tide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Does that go for nuclear power, also? I'm all for taxpayer funding of nuclear power, as long as it pisses you off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I'm all for taxpayer funding of nuclear power, as long as it pisses you off. On top of that he might be able to get a government job at a nuclear plant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 On top of that he might be able to get a government job at a nuclear plant! Maybe one of those high-falutin' middle class janitorial jobs that let him afford chicken... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Does that go for nuclear power, also? I know this will be difficult for you to comprehend Dave, because let's face it, if you're not retarded you certainly didn't miss it by much, but there is a subtle difference between wanting the freedom to engage in free enterprise and wanting someone to confiscate the resources of others by force to fund a project that doesn't provide enough value raise investment capital. Just sayin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Maybe one of those high-falutin' middle class janitorial jobs that let him afford chicken... I was thinking maybe he could test for leaks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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