by electricron
Most "Dream" HSR maps in the USA make the same mistakes you did, starting with a macro view instead of a micro view. I suggest HSR should follow historic patterns from the first half of the 19th century. The giant New York Central railroad was formed by mergining many smaller lines, lines connecting cities to the very next cities where there was sufficient trade. For example, a railroad connecting Albany to Syracuse merged with a railroad connecting Rochester to Syracuse, etc. until Buffalo was connected to New York City. All the railroads in the USA were formed similarly.
I strongly believe HSR implementation will follow the same pattern. Presently, one could state Boston to D.C. HSR exists. That L.A. to S.F. will exist soon. How they will ever be connected together will be determined where future HSR is built, and that will be determined by future demand. I believe it is safe to believe Chicago will be included, but that isn't set in stone. Neither is an extension down the East Coast to Florida. It's possible, although unlikely today, that a state with little passenger rail might decide to jump in a BIG way, let's say Tennessee, which decided to connect Bristol with Memphis with 200 mph HSR from scratch following I-40. If that we're to happen, extending the NEC to Bristol chances would increase significantly. I'm not suggesting that will happen, just that it could. And that would change all these "Dream" maps for a coast to coast HSR line following I-40 all the way west to L.A.
I strongly believe HSR implementation will follow the same pattern. Presently, one could state Boston to D.C. HSR exists. That L.A. to S.F. will exist soon. How they will ever be connected together will be determined where future HSR is built, and that will be determined by future demand. I believe it is safe to believe Chicago will be included, but that isn't set in stone. Neither is an extension down the East Coast to Florida. It's possible, although unlikely today, that a state with little passenger rail might decide to jump in a BIG way, let's say Tennessee, which decided to connect Bristol with Memphis with 200 mph HSR from scratch following I-40. If that we're to happen, extending the NEC to Bristol chances would increase significantly. I'm not suggesting that will happen, just that it could. And that would change all these "Dream" maps for a coast to coast HSR line following I-40 all the way west to L.A.