@runnerdude29.bsky.social
As for “if it’s worth it,” if it means getting to LA a decade or more sooner (if at all), possibly by 2039 for the LAUS centennial, then I’d say it’s definitely worth at least exploring the feasibility of and seeing if the cost is worth the benefits (HSR to LA sooner and electric AV Line service).
February 6, 2026 at 12:26 AM
As for “if it’s worth it,” if it means getting to LA a decade or more sooner (if at all), possibly by 2039 for the LAUS centennial, then I’d say it’s definitely worth at least exploring the feasibility of and seeing if the cost is worth the benefits (HSR to LA sooner and electric AV Line service).
I’d very doubt the AV Line gets abandoned even with CAHSR between Palmdale and LA. It serves local riders and connects more cities between Lancaster and LA than CAHSR will. Plus more service is better than less. It’s also a freight line for UP between LA and NorCal.
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 AM
I’d very doubt the AV Line gets abandoned even with CAHSR between Palmdale and LA. It serves local riders and connects more cities between Lancaster and LA than CAHSR will. Plus more service is better than less. It’s also a freight line for UP between LA and NorCal.
Yeah Capitol Corridor shifting to the Coast Sub between Oakland and SJ will supposedly shave off 15 minutes. Once Link21 happens, and CC uses electric/dual-mode trains (STC will likely be off-limits to diesels), then some CC trains can go to SF while others go to SJ, and Caltrain can reach Oakland.
February 6, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Yeah Capitol Corridor shifting to the Coast Sub between Oakland and SJ will supposedly shave off 15 minutes. Once Link21 happens, and CC uses electric/dual-mode trains (STC will likely be off-limits to diesels), then some CC trains can go to SF while others go to SJ, and Caltrain can reach Oakland.
Possibly, especially once the 2nd Transbay Tube is complete (which I believe is being planned as standard gauge, not BART), effectively creating a Caltrain loop around the Bay.
February 5, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Possibly, especially once the 2nd Transbay Tube is complete (which I believe is being planned as standard gauge, not BART), effectively creating a Caltrain loop around the Bay.
I’d imagine schedules will be coordinated to prioritize CAHSR trains. Not sure how that’s gonna work exactly but it may end up that some northbound CAHSR trains will terminate at San Jose.
February 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM
I’d imagine schedules will be coordinated to prioritize CAHSR trains. Not sure how that’s gonna work exactly but it may end up that some northbound CAHSR trains will terminate at San Jose.
Well my point was that CAHSR will be making far fewer stops than Caltrain will, which inherently means it’ll have a faster travel time, if not 14-16 minutes then maybe closer to 10 due to slowing for stopped trains in front where there’s passing tracks.
February 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Well my point was that CAHSR will be making far fewer stops than Caltrain will, which inherently means it’ll have a faster travel time, if not 14-16 minutes then maybe closer to 10 due to slowing for stopped trains in front where there’s passing tracks.
Granted that doesn’t account for slow downs due to capacity constraints. So maybe it’d be closer to ten minutes faster for CAHSR vs Caltrain.
February 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Granted that doesn’t account for slow downs due to capacity constraints. So maybe it’d be closer to ten minutes faster for CAHSR vs Caltrain.
Well right now the express Caltrain travel time is an hour, but it also has more stops than CAHSR will. CAHSR only has 3 stations on the Peninsula (STC, Millbrae, Diridon), 4 with 4th & Townsend. Just 1-2 intermediate stops vs 9. If each adds say 2 minutes, that’s 14-16 minutes faster for CAHSR.
February 2, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Well right now the express Caltrain travel time is an hour, but it also has more stops than CAHSR will. CAHSR only has 3 stations on the Peninsula (STC, Millbrae, Diridon), 4 with 4th & Townsend. Just 1-2 intermediate stops vs 9. If each adds say 2 minutes, that’s 14-16 minutes faster for CAHSR.
The other main objective would be to allow the one-seat SF-LA HSR ride sooner (possibly before 2040 instead of 2050s or later), which plays into the convenience factor of trains over planes, and it’d still be over an hour faster than driving. Having to transfer at Palmdale could hurt some ridership.
February 2, 2026 at 9:43 PM
The other main objective would be to allow the one-seat SF-LA HSR ride sooner (possibly before 2040 instead of 2050s or later), which plays into the convenience factor of trains over planes, and it’d still be over an hour faster than driving. Having to transfer at Palmdale could hurt some ridership.
Yeah that would limit HSR to probably hourly at best. Any more than that would require further double tracking. The main objective of possibly electrifying the AV Line as an interim CAHSR route to LA would be to do it as inexpensively as possible.
February 2, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Yeah that would limit HSR to probably hourly at best. Any more than that would require further double tracking. The main objective of possibly electrifying the AV Line as an interim CAHSR route to LA would be to do it as inexpensively as possible.
HSR between SF and LA via a shared electrified AV Line would have an express travel time of under 4 hours (2 hours 15 minutes from SF to Palmdale, based on CAHSR’s estimated travel times, plus 90 minutes from Palmdale to LA based on AV express service travel time), and about 4 1/2 hours with local.
February 2, 2026 at 9:33 PM
HSR between SF and LA via a shared electrified AV Line would have an express travel time of under 4 hours (2 hours 15 minutes from SF to Palmdale, based on CAHSR’s estimated travel times, plus 90 minutes from Palmdale to LA based on AV express service travel time), and about 4 1/2 hours with local.
Well define affordability and for whom. It’s like how a living wage depends on where you live. A $100K job would mean living well in many places but would be low income in the Bay Area. I agree that affordability has gotten worse due to a number of factors, and especially recently.
January 18, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Well define affordability and for whom. It’s like how a living wage depends on where you live. A $100K job would mean living well in many places but would be low income in the Bay Area. I agree that affordability has gotten worse due to a number of factors, and especially recently.
“Make America Affordable Again”
youtu.be/0atXZZveIjE?...
youtu.be/0atXZZveIjE?...
10 Ways to Make America Affordable
YouTube video by Robert Reich
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 12:18 AM
“Make America Affordable Again”
youtu.be/0atXZZveIjE?...
youtu.be/0atXZZveIjE?...
As for double tracking, the main objective of electrifying the AV Line as an interim CAHSR route would be to get their trains into LA as inexpensively as possible, meaning no changes to the track infrastructure beyond what LACMTA already plans on doing.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
As for double tracking, the main objective of electrifying the AV Line as an interim CAHSR route would be to get their trains into LA as inexpensively as possible, meaning no changes to the track infrastructure beyond what LACMTA already plans on doing.
And SCRRA has so far been hostile toward electrification, wanting instead to pursue hydrogen. Based on Caltrain’s success with electric trains, the writing is on the wall and pressure will (hopefully) increase on Metrolink to finally start going electric too.
December 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
And SCRRA has so far been hostile toward electrification, wanting instead to pursue hydrogen. Based on Caltrain’s success with electric trains, the writing is on the wall and pressure will (hopefully) increase on Metrolink to finally start going electric too.
Awesome to see.
Has CHSRA along with SCRRA (Metrolink)/LACMTA ever explored the feasibility of electrifying the existing AV Line between Palmdale and LA as an interim route for CAHSR trains? That way they can begin direct SF-LA service by 2040, rather than rely on transfers.
Has CHSRA along with SCRRA (Metrolink)/LACMTA ever explored the feasibility of electrifying the existing AV Line between Palmdale and LA as an interim route for CAHSR trains? That way they can begin direct SF-LA service by 2040, rather than rely on transfers.
December 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Awesome to see.
Has CHSRA along with SCRRA (Metrolink)/LACMTA ever explored the feasibility of electrifying the existing AV Line between Palmdale and LA as an interim route for CAHSR trains? That way they can begin direct SF-LA service by 2040, rather than rely on transfers.
Has CHSRA along with SCRRA (Metrolink)/LACMTA ever explored the feasibility of electrifying the existing AV Line between Palmdale and LA as an interim route for CAHSR trains? That way they can begin direct SF-LA service by 2040, rather than rely on transfers.
An overnight train could work well, getting on at one end at 9 or 10pm at night and waking up at 7 or 8am the next morning at the other end.
July 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
An overnight train could work well, getting on at one end at 9 or 10pm at night and waking up at 7 or 8am the next morning at the other end.
The Daylight did the LA-SF run in about 9 1/2 hours. The current Coast Starlight takes about 12 hours. The drive on 101 between LA and SF takes about 7 1/2 hours. So a train able to get within a 1/2 hour or so of the drive time, and with enough convenience and frequency, could be very competitive.
July 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The Daylight did the LA-SF run in about 9 1/2 hours. The current Coast Starlight takes about 12 hours. The drive on 101 between LA and SF takes about 7 1/2 hours. So a train able to get within a 1/2 hour or so of the drive time, and with enough convenience and frequency, could be very competitive.
It’d have been great if back in say the 1980s or 90s the state bought the entire Surf/Coast Line from SD to SF/Sacramento, electrified and upgraded it for frequent passenger trains that could compete with driving, then built HSR via the CV in the late 2000s/2010s as capacity maxed out on that route.
July 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It’d have been great if back in say the 1980s or 90s the state bought the entire Surf/Coast Line from SD to SF/Sacramento, electrified and upgraded it for frequent passenger trains that could compete with driving, then built HSR via the CV in the late 2000s/2010s as capacity maxed out on that route.
How fast is the Pueblo test track though? And how much would it cost to upgrade it to 242 mph? Regardless, trains need to test where they’re going to run. That’s why the new Acelas are testing on the NEC, and why Caltrain tested its EMUs between SF and San Jose, despite both having tested in Pueblo.
July 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
How fast is the Pueblo test track though? And how much would it cost to upgrade it to 242 mph? Regardless, trains need to test where they’re going to run. That’s why the new Acelas are testing on the NEC, and why Caltrain tested its EMUs between SF and San Jose, despite both having tested in Pueblo.
Upgrading and electrifying the Surfliner should be an absolute must, following at least the Del Mar tunnel realignment and possibly after realigning Miramar and San Clemente. I’d do it incrementally, starting with LA-Laguna Niguel (Metrolink), SD-Oceanside (Coaster), then finally LN-Oceanside.
July 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Upgrading and electrifying the Surfliner should be an absolute must, following at least the Del Mar tunnel realignment and possibly after realigning Miramar and San Clemente. I’d do it incrementally, starting with LA-Laguna Niguel (Metrolink), SD-Oceanside (Coaster), then finally LN-Oceanside.
Well like I said, CHSRA had considered LA-SD as one of a few initial routes, but went with the Central Valley for a number of reasons, including mainly the federal funding requirement. How would you feel about LA-SD if you lived in the Bay Area, or if the IOS had been SF-Fresno if you’re in SoCal?
July 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Well like I said, CHSRA had considered LA-SD as one of a few initial routes, but went with the Central Valley for a number of reasons, including mainly the federal funding requirement. How would you feel about LA-SD if you lived in the Bay Area, or if the IOS had been SF-Fresno if you’re in SoCal?
Maybe so, but it’s something that needs to happen regardless. The project needs more funding and the private sector is a potential place to get some, and Choudri has experience working with them. They need assurance they’ll get an ROI, which the state can provide with its own secure funding source.
July 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Maybe so, but it’s something that needs to happen regardless. The project needs more funding and the private sector is a potential place to get some, and Choudri has experience working with them. They need assurance they’ll get an ROI, which the state can provide with its own secure funding source.