Oh, no, that's impossible !

High-speed rail?  Never, oh, never !  That's impossible !

That's what we hear when advocating high-speed rail as one measure to take the pressure for expansion off of over-crowded airports.  

The Federal government helps, by setting a 79 m.p.h. absolute top speed limit on rail in our State.  

But, amazingly -- unbelieavably -- trains CAN & DO go faster than 79 m.p.h. in foreign countries.  Such as China.  See the following article posted on the "Aviation Watch" list earlier this month, & originating as shown. 

High speed rail

Posted by: "Charles R. Miller" atandsf@sbcglobal.net santaferr
Sat Jan 2, 2010 5:52 pm (PST)


Hello, Everyone,

A new HSR route with trains running at 217mph has opened, but not in the United States. Here's a short report from Trains News Wire.

Chuck Miller

China launches world's fastest train


Published: Monday, December 28, 2009
BEIJING — China launched what it says is the fastest train in the world Saturday, with trains running at an average speed of 217 mph on a route covering 664 miles in three hours, Agence France Press has reported. The route links Guangzhou and Wuhan, China, roughly the same distance apart as Chicago and Little Rock, Ark.

Work on the project began in 2005, with the idea of linking Guangzhou with Beijing. Guangzhou is a business hub in southern China, located near Hong Kong. Test runs began earlier this month, and the first revenue trips operated Saturday.

China launched its first high speed train in 2008, a service that connects Beijing and Tianjin. The Chinese government has plans to complete 42 high speed routes by 2012 in an effort to reinvent the country's transportation system. Siemens, Bombardier, and Alstom contributed technology for the new line.