Overview

I’ll be delving into published reports on the feasibility of high speed rail (HSR), as well as providing my own analysis. I intend to stick to hard numbers and use conservative estimates, while keeping in mind The Big Question: Is It Worth It? 

To explain, I’ll be frequently referring to the Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak route. Below are estimated costs and travel times for air, driving, and HSR. HSR provides an important middle ground for long-distance travel: faster than driving, and cheaper than flying. Depending on the route, total travel time is sometimes less than traveling by air.

Answering The Big Question involves first answering many, inter-related smaller questions. Here is the basic process: 

-          Design: Where should it go?

-          Type: What type of system should be built?

-          Time and Cost: How does travel time and cost compare to flying and driving?

-          Ridership: How many people would use HSR?

-          Benefits: How to quantify the benefits?

-          Costs: How much would HSR cost to build and operate?

-          Cost/Benefit Analysis: Do the benefits justify the costs?

-          Other Benefits: What are the other advantages of HSR?

-          Funding: How to pay for it?