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Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

trains.fyi

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Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#151

Post by chroma »

nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

High speed rail between San Francisco and Los Angeles isn't economically viable. California HSR will cost at least $30 billion to construct and California's own estimates claim it will cost $700-$874 million per year to operate.[1] Around four million passengers fly between SF and LA every year. Assuming every single one of them takes the train instead of flying, you're looking at $175-$218 per ticket just to pay for operations. If you wanted the project to pay for itself in 20 years, you'd have to charge $550-$600 per ticket. For comparison, airfare between the two cities starts at $80 round trip. Also the train will take 3 hours while flying takes 1.5 hours. Even including the time it takes to get to/from the airport and get through security, flying is faster.

1. https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/docs/programs/san_jose...

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#152

Post by picohen »

nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

The Shinkansen is FASCINATING. I recently went and was amazed by Tokyo's infrastructure and how they have a city under a city. The fact that there is a bullet train at tokyo station every 10 mins or so is mind blowing

I went into a Youtube rabbit hole the other night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdJwAUdvlik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFpG3yf3Rxk

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#153

Post by saltminer »

ecshafer wrote: post #69

This is cool, but you are missing NJ Transit which has passenger trains separate from LIRR and Metro North. You are also missing Septa and MTA internal city light rail and subway lines, which are technically passenger trains.

If the NYC subway gets added, don't forget PATH trains!

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#154

Post by resolutebat »

nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

Small correction: every 6 minutes, not 10! And each train has 16 (sixteen) carriages and can seat over 1,300 people.

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#155

Post by LordShredda »

chroma wrote: post #151
nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

High speed rail between San Francisco and Los Angeles isn't economically viable. California HSR will cost at least $30 billion to construct and California's own estimates claim it will cost $700-$874 million per year to operate.[1] Around four million passengers fly between SF and LA every year. Assuming every single one of them takes the train instead of flying, you're looking at $175-$218 per ticket just to pay for…

That's the upfront cost and profit, but think of the economic opportunities created once people can travel between the two largest cities in California with no hassle and regularly.

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#156

Post by resolutebat »

lmm wrote: post #129
nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

I like the Shinkansen but it's also very expensive - that journey is ¥14,170 one way, and the discounts for return tickets or advance booking are vanishingly small. Even with the incredibly weak yen I can see same-day SF-LA flights cheaper than that.

This is starting to change, the discounts for early booking and/or slower trains can be up to 50% these days: https://livejapan.com/en/in-tohoku/in-pref-miyagi/in-sendai_...

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#157

Post by hifromLA »

nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

The HSR route between San Francisco and Los Angeles is under construction. It’s not gone perfectly but it is starting to pick up momentum.

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#158

Post by robin_reala »

lmm wrote: post #129
nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

I like the Shinkansen but it's also very expensive - that journey is ¥14,170 one way, and the discounts for return tickets or advance booking are vanishingly small. Even with the incredibly weak yen I can see same-day SF-LA flights cheaper than that.

The Shinkansen pitches itself as broadly price competitive with flights, but more convenient and more comfortable. In that sense it’s not expensive, it’s greater value.

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#159

Post by brnt »

lmm wrote: post #129
nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

I like the Shinkansen but it's also very expensive - that journey is ¥14,170 one way, and the discounts for return tickets or advance booking are vanishingly small. Even with the incredibly weak yen I can see same-day SF-LA flights cheaper than that.

Cheaper for the same seat size, allowed luggage amount?

Re: Show HN: Trains.fyi – a live map of passenger trains in the US and Canada

#160

Post by resolutebat »

chroma wrote: post #151
nilsbunger wrote: post #116

It's sad that even great potential routes like SF->LA aren't accessible by train, and we don't seem to have the state capacity to build HSR there. I was just in Japan, and took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is a similar distance as SF to LA. That train: - runs every 10 minutes -- if you miss one, just take the next one! - takes 2.5 hours travel time - starts and ends in city centers on both ends. - has be…

High speed rail between San Francisco and Los Angeles isn't economically viable. California HSR will cost at least $30 billion to construct and California's own estimates claim it will cost $700-$874 million per year to operate.[1] Around four million passengers fly between SF and LA every year. Assuming every single one of them takes the train instead of flying, you're looking at $175-$218 per ticket just to pay for…

Funny how trains are expected to be profitable from day 1, but you can drive a car from SF to LA and not pay a cent for the highway infra that costs billions to build and upkeep.

Also, in what world can you reliably get from central LA/SF to LAX/SFO and through checkin & TSA in 45 min each?

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