Elmira, NY has a really cool concrete grade separation structure running through downtown. It was built in the 1930s, and restored by the town a few years ago.
March 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Elmira, NY has a really cool concrete grade separation structure running through downtown. It was built in the 1930s, and restored by the town a few years ago.
Also for good transport ideas, though. In addition to all this silly stuff, they’re doing a huge expansion of their automated metro.
February 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Also for good transport ideas, though. In addition to all this silly stuff, they’re doing a huge expansion of their automated metro.
The Chamartín Station project in Madrid will double the number of HSR platforms while constructing a deck over the railyards, opening up 700 acres for development, for which the high-speed rail operator will receive 1 billion euros, more than covering the cost of the infrastructure improvements.
February 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The Chamartín Station project in Madrid will double the number of HSR platforms while constructing a deck over the railyards, opening up 700 acres for development, for which the high-speed rail operator will receive 1 billion euros, more than covering the cost of the infrastructure improvements.
Obviously we've done this before in the U.S., but I think there are plenty of opportunities still out there, both for transit and intercity rail, and both for new projects and station overhauls.
February 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Obviously we've done this before in the U.S., but I think there are plenty of opportunities still out there, both for transit and intercity rail, and both for new projects and station overhauls.
It wasn't malpractice on the part of CHSRA. They just weren't set up with the right structures in place (e.g., their charter, FRA/FTA rules) to play a role in station area development.
The site plans show mostly surface parking at station sites--more surface parking than even Brightline Florida.
The site plans show mostly surface parking at station sites--more surface parking than even Brightline Florida.
February 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
It wasn't malpractice on the part of CHSRA. They just weren't set up with the right structures in place (e.g., their charter, FRA/FTA rules) to play a role in station area development.
The site plans show mostly surface parking at station sites--more surface parking than even Brightline Florida.
The site plans show mostly surface parking at station sites--more surface parking than even Brightline Florida.
One of the biggest missed opportunities to capture land value is in San Jose.
Diridon Station is benefiting from $10s of billions in public transit investment.
Who has bought up all the land? Google.
They have a beautiful plan, but Google did not need a land value windfall. CHSRA and VTA did!
Diridon Station is benefiting from $10s of billions in public transit investment.
Who has bought up all the land? Google.
They have a beautiful plan, but Google did not need a land value windfall. CHSRA and VTA did!
February 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One of the biggest missed opportunities to capture land value is in San Jose.
Diridon Station is benefiting from $10s of billions in public transit investment.
Who has bought up all the land? Google.
They have a beautiful plan, but Google did not need a land value windfall. CHSRA and VTA did!
Diridon Station is benefiting from $10s of billions in public transit investment.
Who has bought up all the land? Google.
They have a beautiful plan, but Google did not need a land value windfall. CHSRA and VTA did!
Brightline probably pulled in ~$0.5 - $1.0b in property sales, mostly at the Miami station, to fund the $6b system. But they probably could have 2x-3x'ed that with a more aggressive strategy and financing.
As the article indicates, all *six train stations are emerging as major commercial centers*.
As the article indicates, all *six train stations are emerging as major commercial centers*.
February 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Brightline probably pulled in ~$0.5 - $1.0b in property sales, mostly at the Miami station, to fund the $6b system. But they probably could have 2x-3x'ed that with a more aggressive strategy and financing.
As the article indicates, all *six train stations are emerging as major commercial centers*.
As the article indicates, all *six train stations are emerging as major commercial centers*.
I think the ventilation isn’t the issue as much as evacuation. The two longest undersea tunnels (Seikan and Channel Tunnel) both have a parallel tube that runs the entire length of the tunnel just for emergency evacuations.
January 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I think the ventilation isn’t the issue as much as evacuation. The two longest undersea tunnels (Seikan and Channel Tunnel) both have a parallel tube that runs the entire length of the tunnel just for emergency evacuations.
If you had room for service access/emergency egress points and vertical ventilation every 10-15 miles, cross passages every ~300m, and a few rail crossover tunnels, you can go quite far, in theory.
January 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
If you had room for service access/emergency egress points and vertical ventilation every 10-15 miles, cross passages every ~300m, and a few rail crossover tunnels, you can go quite far, in theory.
With electrified trains, your main issues in operations are ventilation, fire suppression, dust/cleaning, and emergency egress in the case of a disabled train. Gotthard is currently the longest tunnel and mostly solves these problems using two access tunnels and a large firefighting operation.
January 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
With electrified trains, your main issues in operations are ventilation, fire suppression, dust/cleaning, and emergency egress in the case of a disabled train. Gotthard is currently the longest tunnel and mostly solves these problems using two access tunnels and a large firefighting operation.
China hopes to use this train to break France’s world speed record of 575kmh (357mph), set in 2007 with the TGV
December 30, 2024 at 4:03 PM
China hopes to use this train to break France’s world speed record of 575kmh (357mph), set in 2007 with the TGV
Improvements in China’s new homegrown high-speed train vs. prior generation:
- speed up from 217mph to 248mph
- air resistance down 22%
- weight down 10%
- interior noise down 2db
- interior space up 4%
- speed up from 217mph to 248mph
- air resistance down 22%
- weight down 10%
- interior noise down 2db
- interior space up 4%
December 30, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Improvements in China’s new homegrown high-speed train vs. prior generation:
- speed up from 217mph to 248mph
- air resistance down 22%
- weight down 10%
- interior noise down 2db
- interior space up 4%
- speed up from 217mph to 248mph
- air resistance down 22%
- weight down 10%
- interior noise down 2db
- interior space up 4%
I’m surprised that there’s not enough space. 300 meters of platform isn’t enough? Looks like it’s the same length as at Hialeah.
December 30, 2024 at 2:28 PM
I’m surprised that there’s not enough space. 300 meters of platform isn’t enough? Looks like it’s the same length as at Hialeah.
December 28, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Electrified commuter rail is the low hanging fruit in so many US cities!
Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, DC, Houston, LA, Seattle, and South Florida all come to mind.
Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, DC, Houston, LA, Seattle, and South Florida all come to mind.
December 27, 2024 at 8:48 PM
Electrified commuter rail is the low hanging fruit in so many US cities!
Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, DC, Houston, LA, Seattle, and South Florida all come to mind.
Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, DC, Houston, LA, Seattle, and South Florida all come to mind.
We need to stop thinking one-dimensionally about a successive rapid transit hierarchy that starts with BRT, then light rail, then subway, and then electric regional rail only for the largest cities.
December 27, 2024 at 8:48 PM
We need to stop thinking one-dimensionally about a successive rapid transit hierarchy that starts with BRT, then light rail, then subway, and then electric regional rail only for the largest cities.
One bright spot is SF: Caltrain just electrified 51 miles of tracks from SF to San Jose, allowing for 25% faster trip times and 15 minutes frequencies at many stations.
$2.4B, opened 2024.
Future plans include a tunnel into downtown and a connection across the Bay to Oakland.
$2.4B, opened 2024.
Future plans include a tunnel into downtown and a connection across the Bay to Oakland.
December 27, 2024 at 8:48 PM
One bright spot is SF: Caltrain just electrified 51 miles of tracks from SF to San Jose, allowing for 25% faster trip times and 15 minutes frequencies at many stations.
$2.4B, opened 2024.
Future plans include a tunnel into downtown and a connection across the Bay to Oakland.
$2.4B, opened 2024.
Future plans include a tunnel into downtown and a connection across the Bay to Oakland.
There are many examples of 100mph “express metros” across China: Guangzhou Lines 18 & 22, Chengdu Line 19, Beijing Line 22, and a number of planned lines in Shanghai.
December 27, 2024 at 8:47 PM
There are many examples of 100mph “express metros” across China: Guangzhou Lines 18 & 22, Chengdu Line 19, Beijing Line 22, and a number of planned lines in Shanghai.
Chongqing Line 27 is an 89km interurban using 86mph rolling stock. It includes passing sidings for express services, and was completed in 2024.
December 27, 2024 at 8:47 PM
Chongqing Line 27 is an 89km interurban using 86mph rolling stock. It includes passing sidings for express services, and was completed in 2024.
Korea is building a huge express commuter rail network across the Seoul Capital Region called GTX.
3 lines are under construction totaling >200km, with another 3 in planning.
The network plan looks more like a metro, foregoing the S-Bahn-style city-center shared trunk line.
3 lines are under construction totaling >200km, with another 3 in planning.
The network plan looks more like a metro, foregoing the S-Bahn-style city-center shared trunk line.
December 27, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Korea is building a huge express commuter rail network across the Seoul Capital Region called GTX.
3 lines are under construction totaling >200km, with another 3 in planning.
The network plan looks more like a metro, foregoing the S-Bahn-style city-center shared trunk line.
3 lines are under construction totaling >200km, with another 3 in planning.
The network plan looks more like a metro, foregoing the S-Bahn-style city-center shared trunk line.
Existing RER lines are also getting big upgrades to improve reliability and performance.
New rolling stock is on the way for most lines, too!
New rolling stock is on the way for most lines, too!
December 27, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Existing RER lines are also getting big upgrades to improve reliability and performance.
New rolling stock is on the way for most lines, too!
New rolling stock is on the way for most lines, too!
Last but not least, Paris’ impressive RER network continues to expand and improve.
The biggest expansion project is the RER E, which is being extended westward to serve La Defense and the western suburbs.
~$4B, opening 2026 (first phase opened 2024)
The biggest expansion project is the RER E, which is being extended westward to serve La Defense and the western suburbs.
~$4B, opening 2026 (first phase opened 2024)
December 27, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Last but not least, Paris’ impressive RER network continues to expand and improve.
The biggest expansion project is the RER E, which is being extended westward to serve La Defense and the western suburbs.
~$4B, opening 2026 (first phase opened 2024)
The biggest expansion project is the RER E, which is being extended westward to serve La Defense and the western suburbs.
~$4B, opening 2026 (first phase opened 2024)
The Elizabeth Line, London’s massive new cross-city rail line, has been a huge success, smashing the forecasted ridership. Original projections were for 150M annual rides by 2030, and they’re on track for 220M in 2024.
~$23B, opened 2022
~$23B, opened 2022
December 27, 2024 at 8:42 PM
The Elizabeth Line, London’s massive new cross-city rail line, has been a huge success, smashing the forecasted ridership. Original projections were for 150M annual rides by 2030, and they’re on track for 220M in 2024.
~$23B, opened 2022
~$23B, opened 2022