I've been working in Asia these past 2 weeks

[dutch508]

Star Member The Polack MSgt (1,272 posts) https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028938531

I've been working in Asia these past 2 weeks

12 Days in the Republic of Korea and the next 4 in Japan.

While in the ROK I used the KTX high speed rail system to get around the peninsula, its very impressive. Truthfully, the whole country impressed me.

I was last on the R.O.K. 31 years ago as young newly minted Staff Sergeant. Back then the country was building maniacally to host the Summer Olympics, but the infrastructure was not great - Uneven may be the best description.

Not any more. I went to several areas in the Southeast (Pohang and Gyeongju) and Northwest to work (Incheon Seoul and Tongducheon) and I was impressed.

Back to the train though - How would you like to live in a nation where you can go 256 miles in 2 hours 15 minutes for $70. Comfortably, safely and with tasty snacks? Hahaha. We can't...

We can't because Republicans say we can't - there is no other reason. It's a tired trope that remains true, government can't work if half of the government is sabotaging everything.

The only time the GOP cares about infrastructure is when they can shovel pork filled contracts to their donors.

Every time I travel to functional nations I want to cry about the state of our great nation - being crippled by a willfully ignorant greedy cabal more interested in establishing a hereditary Gentry/Serf feudal society than it is about moving us forward

 

Star Member The Polack MSgt (1,272 posts)
7. Not to mention the quality of the wireless communications

I have to believe that Americans in general just don't know how badly we are being ripped off on the price and quality of the communications/data network in America

 

NewJeffCT (44,325 posts)
5. I was just in China and took the high speed rail twice as well

Went from Nanjing to Xi'An. It's about 600 miles by train. With a 30 minute stop along the way, along with a few other brief stops, it was about 4 or 4.5 hours to get there. Not a bump, rattle or shake the entire route. Even airplane wouldn't be that quick - it's a little under 2 hours for the flight, but considering you need to get to the airport at least an hour ahead of time and then need to check and pick up baggage, it ends up being more time. (You just bring your bags onto the train...) And, it's way more comfortable.

Previously, we went from Shanghai to Nanjing - a little over 200 miles in about an hour on HSR. Because of a reservation mistake, they also put us in first class for the trip. I'm sure for a plane, we would have been bumped to the next flight and arrived even later. I barely slept a wink on the flights from Hartford to Chicago and then to Shanghai. However, as soon as I hit that comfy reclining first class seat, I fell asleep for the entire hour.

betsuni (4,623 posts)
12. Yes, such a shame.

In my neighborhood (in Japan), there's a bus terminal down the street, subway stop three blocks away, train station a fifteen minute walk. I can walk to do most of my shopping, sidewalks everywhere because people walk and ride bikes. Yesterday during a drive to the countryside, from the highway I saw local trains connecting all the little towns along the cherry blossom-lined river. Compared to the States, these towns are amazingly healthy (although because of the low birth rate fewer young people than old of course). There's still manufacturing (both small and large factories), small farms (and gardens), generations living together, healthy food. I've noticed many solar power fields in the last couple of years. My husband's young niece and nephew love their town, never want to leave and no reason they have to. The middle class is alive and well.

Oh, and last week I went to a local clinic. Didn't have an appointment, took a number, waited about 20 minutes to see a doctor. Visit and medicine cost around sixteen dollars.

Star Member defacto7 (7,494 posts)
31. what a great story... a great dream...

Last edited Sun Apr 16, 2017, 10:34 PM - Edit history (1)

and the sad reality for the US. Thoughts of what we could have been go though my mind all the time... high speed rail, the end of fostle fuel, unlimited health care for all. I'll never see it if it ever comes about but I hope my kids or their kids will be able to realize that potential.

Star Member DFW (23,377 posts)
43. Here in Europe, fast trains are THE preferred means of intercity travel

I haven't taken a plane between Brussels and Düsseldorf in probably 15 years or more. I used to sometimes take the commuter plane because it took only 35 minutes, and the train between Köln and Brussels used to take 3 hours, plus the extra half hour from Köln on to Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf to Frankfurt used to take almost 3 hours as well.

Now, the run from Köln to Brussels takes only an hour an 47 minutes, and Köln-Frankfurt just 80 minutes. Düsseldorf to Paris has been reduced to under 4 hours. It isn't worth the hassle of flying any more, as the CDG airport is far from the city, and traffic in Paris is so crazy that it makes more sense to take the train the whole way unless the half hour saved is so extremely vital. The nonstop Paris-Brussels run has now also been reduced from 3 hours to 80 minutes.

Chris Christie was right that it would cost a fortune to upgrade our rail infrastructure. He is wrong to say it isn't worth it. Few things would be more worthwhile.

Star Member LiberalLovinLug (5,773 posts)
53. I weep at what America could have looked like today

If there hadn't been allowed such a take-over by the top .1% over the last 40 years or so. Where most all new money was redistributed upwards. Some of the blame going to the Clinton led "third way" and "triangulation" that was set on out-Republicaning the Republicans, that pushed it was better to join 'em than fight 'em. Add to that an out-of-control MIC spending train, even before Trump came in.

The richest country in the world should by now have a high-speed rail system from coast to coast. They should have some form of medicare for all (to afford the initial startup period), maternity leave, a livable minimum wage, much more spent on public education including healthy meal programs and classroom computers, and new buildings. As well, instead of killing the electric car back in the seventies, America could have been so far ahead of the game in that industry. Same thing as what is happening with the alternative energy industry, with outright denial of any need or future market for that and minimal investment, and instead doubling down on coal and oil, other countries will leap frog ahead, if they haven't already.

 

[SVPete]

"NewJeffCT" needs to get his watch repaired.. BTW, China is just one time zone, so time zones don't have to be figured in to arrive at net travel time.

Traveling by plane takes less than half the real time by train, and half the time "NewJeffCT" claims.

[Crazy Horse]

 So to travel  250  Miles in 2 1/2 hours would take almost 30 hours to travel across this country.   Hey 250 miles only gets me halfway across the state.

[67 Rover]

Are these DUmmies aware that they are free to move to any one of those lovely countries that put Amerikka to shame. 

[jukin]

Back to the train though - How would you like to live in a nation where you can go 256 miles in 2 hours 15 minutes for $70. Comfortably, safely and with tasty snacks? Hahaha. We can't...

Costs me less to go in less time in the puddle jumper to San Franfago. Not impressed.

[Undies]

Star Member LiberalLovinLug (5,773 posts)
53. I weep........

Why can't you drama queens just plain CRY like everybody else?

[hillneck]

Star Member The Polack MSgt (1,272 posts)
Every time I travel to functional nations I want to cry about the state of our great nation - being crippled by a willfully ignorant greedy cabal more interested in establishing a hereditary Gentry/Serf feudal society than it is about moving us forward

Well DUmmie, feel free at any time to stay in those countries.  Just do the rest of us a favor and stay.   

[zeitgeist]

More trains!! the DUmmy refrain.  Long as the track is made of :



Who cares.    And who the heck is John Galt anyway?   

[I_B_Perky]

Are these DUmmies aware that they are free to move to any one of those lovely countries that put Amerikka to shame. 

Well DUmmie, feel free at any time to stay in those countries.  Just do the rest of us a favor and stay.   

What 67 Rover and Hillneck said.  I bet we could get all get together, donate the money and put you dummies on the plane/ship/bus whatever to get there.  As long as you don't come back.... ever.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Dear stupid DUmmie retards, consider population density.  The only places in the US that have population densities comparable to the places you're talking about are the Northeast Corridor, Coastal Southern California, and parts of peninsular Florida.  Guess what, there are large public transit nets in places that have the population density to support it.  What does NOT make sense is to build supertrain lines across hundreds of miles of smaller cities, towns, farmland, deserts, and mountains to connect any two of hundreds of major metro areas, such as connecting Philly or NYC to the northern Ohio cities and Chicago, or Frisco or LA to Las Vegas.

[DUmpsterDiver]

And yet the drunken monkey DUmmys have not yet vacated America to go live out their fantasies in these sardine can "democracies."

Here is one more GTFO DILLIGAF to their sorry posteriors.

[USA4ME]

The Polack MSgt

We can't because Republicans say we can't - there is no other reason.

Trying to recall Clinton or Obama pushing legislation for high speed rail across the USA, especially when they both had a fully compliant Dem congress.

So if the Dems are all for it, why didn't they press hard for it?

This primitive is the reason Polack jokes exist.

.

[98ZJUSMC]

Dear stupid DUmmie retards, consider population density.  The only places in the US that have population densities comparable to the places you're talking about are the Northeast Corridor, Coastal Southern California, and parts of peninsular Florida.  Guess what, there are large public transit nets in places that have the population density to support it.  What does NOT make sense is to build supertrain lines across hundreds of miles of smaller cities, towns, farmland, deserts, and mountains to connect any two of hundreds of major metro areas, such as connecting Philly or NYC to the northern Ohio cities and Chicago, or Frisco or LA to Las Vegas.

   ....and there it is.

[Carl]

High speed rail could be the stupidest of the DUmbasses holy grails.
Even the few places it might be population viable it still would likely lose money.

[diesel driver]

What 67 Rover and Hillneck said.  I bet we could get all get together, donate the money and put you dummies on the plane/ship/bus whatever to get there.  As long as you don't come back.... ever.

No plane, but I'd chip in for a bus ticket to China or Korea (either end)...   

[diesel driver]

High speed rail could be the stupidest of the DUmbasses holy grails.
Even the few places it might be population viable it still would likely lose money.

Ex. Amtrack.

DUmmies and government couldn't run an extension cord across a room without f'n it up...

[SVPete]

Dear stupid DUmmie retards, consider population density.  The only places in the US that have population densities comparable to the places you're talking about are the Northeast Corridor, Coastal Southern California, and parts of peninsular Florida.  Guess what, there are large public transit nets in places that have the population density to support it.  What does NOT make sense is to build supertrain lines across hundreds of miles of smaller cities, towns, farmland, deserts, and mountains to connect any two of hundreds of major metro areas, such as connecting Philly or NYC to the northern Ohio cities and Chicago, or Frisco or LA to Las Vegas.

Exactly! In Korea and Japan the "bullet" trains make relatively short point-to-point runs (with few, if any, stops between) in densely populated areas. The Schwarzenegger-Moonbeam Folly would run 500-600 miles - LA to SF and San Jose via the Central Valley (not at all a direct route) - with several stops in the Central Valley. The Central Valley, which is some 400 miles of the route, is not densely populated, and every Central Valley stop would slow down the net speed of the "bullet" train. IOW, the Schwarzenegger-Moonbeam Folly would do just about everything wrong that could be done wrong. And in the end, flights between the 3 LA & Orange County airports and the 3 SF Bay Area airports will be much quicker.

The Schwarzenegger-Moonbeam Folly, if not euthanized, would turn out to be a hugemongous boondoggle, from construction costs overruns through annual enormous operating deficits.

And let me repeat more briefly what I posted above. Either "NewJeffCT " lied about the train time from Nanjing to Xian or he needs to get his watch repaired/replaced. There are no trains on that route with a schedule time less than 4:46; his claim of 4-4.5 hours is false. OTOH, by plane the trip is ~2 hours.

[FiddyBeowulf]

Star Member LiberalLovinLug (5,773 posts)
53. I weep at what America could have looked like today

If there hadn't been allowed such a take-over by the top .1% over the last 40 years or so. Where most all new money was redistributed upwards. Some of the blame going to the Clinton led "third way" and "triangulation" that was set on out-Republicaning the Republicans, that pushed it was better to join 'em than fight 'em. Add to that an out-of-control MIC spending train, even before Trump came in.

The richest country in the world should by now have a high-speed rail system from coast to coast.

The richest country in the world was busy protecting the rest of the world from the communists and other threats.

Dear stupid DUmmie retards, consider population density.  The only places in the US that have population densities comparable to the places you're talking about are the Northeast Corridor, Coastal Southern California, and parts of peninsular Florida.  Guess what, there are large public transit nets in places that have the population density to support it.  What does NOT make sense is to build supertrain lines across hundreds of miles of smaller cities, towns, farmland, deserts, and mountains to connect any two of hundreds of major metro areas, such as connecting Philly or NYC to the northern Ohio cities and Chicago, or Frisco or LA to Las Vegas.

Another point. Most of the HST plans I heard about all have one major flaw that makes them slower than cars, all the stops at points between the beginning and end of the rail line. A 3 hour trip turns into a 5 hour trip because of the stops to let people on or off.

[67 Rover]

The richest country in the world was busy protecting the rest of the world from the communists and other threats.


Another point. Most of the HST plans I heard about all have one major flaw that makes them slower than cars, all the stops at points between the beginning and end of the rail line. A 3 hour trip turns into a 5 hour trip because of the stops to let people on or off.

Maybe we could resurrect the old mail delivery system used many years ago to avoid all the stopping for passengers to disembark.  I think it involved a hook and some rope or something.

[Adam Wood]

What an utterly ridiculous notion.  How completely absurd!

Like a DUmmie is going to work.  Sheesh.  No bongs.

[ADsOutburst]

[...] the end of fostle fuel [...]

[SVPete]

Maybe we could resurrect the old mail delivery system used many years ago to avoid all the stopping for passengers to disembark.  I think it involved a hook and some rope or something.

"Bullet" train advocates should be the test subjects.

[FiddyBeowulf]

"Bullet" train advocates should be the test subjects.

DUmmie bullet train
[youtube]https://youtu.be/-Y1Teqt4-0s[/youtube]

[sneakypete]

Back to the train though - How would you like to live in a nation where you can go 256 miles in 2 hours 15 minutes for $70. Comfortably, safely and with tasty snacks? Hahaha. We can't...

That's nothing. All you have to do is go into North Korea,and you will have traveled 75 years into the past in less than a few minutes.

[SVPete]

How would you like to live in a nation where you can go 256 miles in 2 hours 15 minutes for $70. Comfortably, safely and with tasty snacks? Hahaha. We can't...

How about 300-350 miles from the SF Bay Area to the Los Angeles area in less time and for a similar price?

Seriously! Have these DU-morons ever used Google before posting stoooopid outlandish claims? And trust me, I'd rather go to SJC than to the San Jose-Diridon main train station. And LA main train station (where the Schwarzenegger-Moonbeam Folly starts/ends) vs. LAX or Orange County?!