Tuesday, February 5, 2013
American Continental High-Speed Train Proposal
I would love to see this happen.
At a cost of ~$18 million/kilometer
(approximate average from table 2 here.)
(approximate average from table 2 here.)
And each line in km:
Green ~ 2500
Yellow ~ 6000
Red ~ 5500
Turquoise ~ 3500
Grey ~ 1200
Dk Blue ~ 5000
Pink ~ 4500
Lt Blue ~ 2500
White ~ 7500
TOTAL ~ 38,000 kilometers of initially-proposed lines
Cost to roll out this infrastructure would be ~
18 million $/km
TOTAL ~ 38,000 kilometers of initially-proposed lines
Cost to roll out this infrastructure would be ~
18 million $/km
x 38 thousand kilometers
$684 billion
That seems quite low. Looking around further, estimates range as high as $220 million per mile. This likely includes intensive tunneling and difficult terrain. After translating that to km, my rough guess at a realistic average number would be $80 million/km.
That seems quite low. Looking around further, estimates range as high as $220 million per mile. This likely includes intensive tunneling and difficult terrain. After translating that to km, my rough guess at a realistic average number would be $80 million/km.
80 million $/km
x 38 thousand kilometers
~$3 trillion
The above number would be for laying out the infrastructure of tracks, trains, and trainports. Other costs would include paying staff to run it, and to pay for maintenance.
A big consideration is the benefit of amortization out over perhaps 50 years (this BETTER be able to last way longer, with regular maintenance). Can we afford $60 billion/year?
Other considerations are the savings from less reliance on cars, highways, airplanes, and gasoline fuel at unknown rising prices. Further are issues of externalities that this has a strong potential to circumvent.
To me, that makes a project like this look doable, with sufficient commitment.
~$3 trillion
The above number would be for laying out the infrastructure of tracks, trains, and trainports. Other costs would include paying staff to run it, and to pay for maintenance.
A big consideration is the benefit of amortization out over perhaps 50 years (this BETTER be able to last way longer, with regular maintenance). Can we afford $60 billion/year?
Other considerations are the savings from less reliance on cars, highways, airplanes, and gasoline fuel at unknown rising prices. Further are issues of externalities that this has a strong potential to circumvent.
To me, that makes a project like this look doable, with sufficient commitment.
pax hominibus,
agape to all,
joel
Labels: google, paradigm shift, trains, transportation
