Articles:
Between these cities' low populations, the routes' great distances in thinly-populated areas, and the mountainous terrain, it looks like a rather unlikely possibility. Dedicated high-speed lines would be difficult to justify, and moderate-speed lines and upgrades (110-mph and thereabouts) would likely be too slow for the distances that the trains must cover.
The most likely routes I think are LA/SB - Phoenix and LV - Phoenix, perhaps with a connection to Tucson.
However, those states' senators could help bring home the bacon, er. pork. :D
- Alliance’s goal: Western rail system in the Las Vegas Sun
- Rail alliance names first routes, and LV-Reno ignored in the Las Vegas Sun
- Western Rail Alliance Proposes HSR Routes, Including LA-Phoenix in the California High Speed Rail Blog
- Los Angeles - Phoenix -- 374 mi (San Bernardino - Phoenix -- 321 mi)
- Las Vegas - Phoenix -- 286 mi
- Las Vegas - Salt Lake City -- 424 mi
- Las Vegas - Reno -- 441 mi
- Salt Lake City - Reno -- 518 mi
- Salt Lake City - Denver -- 536 mi
- Phoenix - Tucson - Albuquerque -- 116 mi - 448 mi
- Salt Lake City - Boise -- 339 mi
- Denver - Albuquerque -- 449 mi
Between these cities' low populations, the routes' great distances in thinly-populated areas, and the mountainous terrain, it looks like a rather unlikely possibility. Dedicated high-speed lines would be difficult to justify, and moderate-speed lines and upgrades (110-mph and thereabouts) would likely be too slow for the distances that the trains must cover.
The most likely routes I think are LA/SB - Phoenix and LV - Phoenix, perhaps with a connection to Tucson.
However, those states' senators could help bring home the bacon, er. pork. :D