ENERGIZE AMERICA: The High Speed Passenger Rail Act, Draft 1

From the Daily Kos:

Passenger air travel in the US in 2005 got about 45 passenger-miles per gallon of fuel [thanks to freelunch for the correction!], emitting 140 million tons of CO2 in total (1). Passenger cars on highways traveled over 1.5 trillion miles with an average of 1.59 occupants, at about 44 passenger-mpg, emitting about 750 million tons of CO2. Both air and automobile are heavily dependent on liquid fuels whose future supply is uncertain.

Successful high-speed rail systems, implemented in Japan and Europe, particularly the French TGV system, run on electricity with an efficiency equivalent to 300 to 500 passenger-mpg. And electric power is the easiest form to generate from new energy sources such as wind and solar energy. High-passenger-load high-speed rail would dramatically reduce the impact of the passenger transportation sector on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/16/93642/9753

Note: Daily Kos is one of the most popular websites for progressive news and commentary. I read it daily and this is the first time I have seen the cause of high-speed rail discussed here. A significant development.

Hundreds of comments in the comments section too. Seems to be a hunger for something like this at least in 'progressive' circles.

Moderator's Note:

Moved to the High Speed Rail Forum.

In simple words, Amtrak can't even get the Feddybux it needs for as-is operations.