Plans For U.S. Levitating Train Get Boost

The Proposed MagLev Train Would Get Passengers From L.A. To Vegas In Under 2 Hours

(AP)  Plans for a levitating train from Las Vegas to Disneyland can move forward under a transportation bill signed by President Bush on Friday that frees up $45 million for the futuristic project.

Derided by critics as pie in the sky, the train would use magnetic levitation technology to carry passengers from Disneyland to Las Vegas in well under two hours, traveling at speeds of up to 300 mph. It would be the first MagLev system in the U.S.

The money is the largest cash infusion in the project's nearly 20-year history. It will pay for environmental studies for the first leg of the project.

The money had been delayed by a drafting error in Congress' 2005 highway bill, which was corrected along with some other changes by the legislation signed Friday by Bush. The delay had allowed a competing and cheaper diesel-electric plan to emerge as an alternative, but with the money now freed up supporters hope to move forward with the MagLev plan.

The train is meant to ease traffic on increasingly clogged Interstate 15, the main route for the millions of Southern Californians who make the 250-plus-mile drive to Las Vegas each year. There is no train on the route - Amtrak's Desert Wind between Los Angeles and Las Vegas was canceled in 1997 because of low ridership.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., praised passage of the law, saying the MagLev project "will safely and efficiently move people between Southern California and Las Vegas."

[haoli25]

Will never happen.

[hbevis]

I HOPE THAT IT DOES HAPPEN FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO MASS TRANSIT LIKE WE HAD MANY YEARS AGO. AND THIS TRAIN WOULD GET A PERSON TO THEIR DESTINATION 3 OR 4 TIMES QUICKER THAN A CAR, BUS, ETC.
FROM WORKING IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR 40 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN MANY THINGS COME TO BE BECAUSE OF SOME, SO CALLED FAR OUT THOUGHT.

[rudy654-2009]

We need a transportation makeover in this country. The oil industry made sure we would be gas dependent, and now they are knocking us around. We need bullet trains that criss cross this country as they do in Europe. In Switzerland they are building a tunnel system that will make the oil companies obsolete when it is complete. It''s time to bring back mass transportation and kick big oil right in the ribs.

[noaanhc]

haoli25

You cannot yet say it will never happen because it hasnt been tried here yet.Mass transit is a great success in Europe and can be a success here too.

[hbevis]

I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME MORE PEOPLE THAT FEEL AS I DO ABOUT MASS TRANSIT...
GOOD FOR YOU PEOPLE...
IF ENOUGH PEOPLE GET BEHIND SOMETHING IT HAS A CHANCE OF COMING TO LIFE...

[justonevoice-2009]

I guess this is a start on proving maglev is viable.
The route though, come on, Disneyland Las Vegas?
$45 mil as the first leg, just environmental studies.
How about a more improtant route so people can get to work?
I thought this was a joke. It''s infuriating this kind of money is apporopriated for fantasy vacations.
One has to wonder what we look like to the rest of the world with projects like this.

[tryhonesty]

I like the idea of some forward thinking. However, I hope the same people that were involved the monorail system here in Vegas, have nothing to do with this project. The "MonoFAIL" as many of us locals have called it, was poorly planned and excuted. The monorail should haved been built down the middle of the Strip, not built in the "back ally" of the strip, suffering low ridership and many other problems, that would not have existed if built down the middle of the "strip" where people want to be and have maximum access and utility to all locations. It would have been more difficult, but great results always involve, the hard, and right choices. Howard Hughes had the vision in the 1950''s to build a direct, high speed train between LA and Vegas. It is time to build some forward thinking infrastructure in this country that would create excellent jobs and would result in excellent results for future generations. Lets get to work!

[hissteps4u]

Just another way to waste our Money VOTE THE BUMS OUT

[nyteryder2]

What a waste!!

I''d settle for ANY public transportation that could carry me the 17 miles to work in the same amount of time that the MagLev can travel from LA to LV.

[barbaraf4]

This is not mass transit. It is a boost to the LV economy, which is currently tanking, like every other US business. Disneyland might get a boost, but I am going to suggest the destination is LV - just park your car at Disneyland.

[cbsguest6]

I hope more projects of this kind are researched and approved. I would like to see a line go from Chicago to L.A. or D.C. to Seattle. I think this could be a great alternative for travel.

[rajska]

Mag-Lev is an excellent idea. Mag-Lev routes should replace our Interstate highways. Initially they should replace I-10, I-95 and I-5. Instead of planes and cars, we should be using Mag-lev mass transportation system. Then we become less dependent with OPEC oil.

[closethippy1]

"Levitating train"? Is that like a train where passengers practice meditation or something like that?

[olebd]

A fancy train to transport rich people from one recreational spot to another. Real smart. How about a focus on public transportation in real suburbs with real working class that need a viable commuting alternative? Put the money into more critical areas of our infrastructure.

They took away many of the rail system and made bike paths out of them. Not a very wise look toward the future in my opinion.

[jn122736]

When I moved to St Louis In 1951, the city had electric street cars on main routes through the city and buses operating on most other streets.

One could travel anywhere within the city, and to surrounding suburbs on this system.

As I recall, you paid one fee upon entering the bus/car, which covered your fare to wherever you exited, or to the end of that route.

These public-transit vehicles were gradually removed as people purchased personal automobiles and riders (demand) declined.

This had nothing to do with %u201C%u201Dbig oil%u201D%u201D. It was, in fact, what people%u2019s wants/demands dictated.

At that time environmental concerns were not considered a factor, nor were concerns about oil supply.

This trend occurred all across America. Causing many large cities%u2019 populations to move/spread outward, creating more and more demand for personal transportation to and from work. This, in turn, expanded the auto industry and so on.

This evolvement in societal norm took decades.

Societies have gone from personal transportation being a simple luxury to an absolute necessity, and it will require a lot of years to reverse.

Gas/oil prices, just like EVERYTHING needed for simple survival today, are now the result of, almost total, monopolization. This monopolization has allowed corporations to completely control our lives, including our government (including the Supreme Court).

Guess whose fault that is? Hint- look in the mirror.

[l8c6]

(AP) Plans for a levitating train from Las Vegas to Disneyland can move forward under a transportation bill signed by President Bush on Friday that frees up $45 million for the futuristic project.

what a jack*a*zz. This sort of transportation needs to be connecting cities in regional locals not a few playgrounds.

[l8c6]

The monorail should haved been built down the middle of the Strip, not built in the "back ally" of the strip---amazing how we are conditioned to view mass transit as ugly so we stick in the "backalley" while cars and trucks of varying sizes and shapes constantly buzz us generating constant stress, obstruction, noise and filth.

[barocalto]

Will I be able to keep my SUV (I''ve got six children)if Obama gets to be President??? In Portland he said we couldn''t have our SUV''s and our tempeture set a 72.

Is he going to move out of his mansion??? It must use a lot of energy...

[random_radar]

I would still take a plane. Twice as fast and half as expensive. If trains were cost-effective, we would still have rail service instead of airlines.

[downsteamjim]

I thought this was a story about David Copperfield, instead it''s just a another Mickey Mouse plan.

[amcabrera]

It will pay for environmental studies for the first leg of the project.

This is the reason that the project will fail. An amount this great would pay for some of the physical line itself if the route was concurrent with existing highways. Take out lanes and run highspeed between the major points and commute trains to the work and bedroom communities between schedules.

[wogerwabbit]

Ah yes, the lifestyles of the rich and famous generously provided by our tax dollars. How about something for the rest of us out here in America? Rajska at 08:21 AM has the right idea. Insead of pi$$ing away our money on the leisure class, we the people should actually get some benefit out of the investments the government makes in our name.

[haoli25]

You cannot yet say it will never happen because it hasnt been tried here yet. Mass transit is a great success in Europe and can be a success here too.
Posted by noaanhc

The trains have been successful in Europe and in Japan, but THEY did not have to deal with the ''Kingdom of Kalifornia'' either. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Before this there was the ''bullet train'' from LA to Vegas, the backers gave up. Too many restrictions and too many dinky towns to deal with.

[cockapoo8]

What happens to a levitation trains track when its struck by lightning? Best find out now before carrying 800 people going 300 mph.

[cockapoo8]

"I thought this was a story about David Copperfield, instead it''''s just a another Mickey Mouse plan."

I don''t know why you guys don''t all go monorail. Its simple? Cheap? Relatively reliable (except when struck by lightning), and safe.

[cockapoo8]

In fact, Disney''s monorail only needs some minor enhancements. 1) lightning loves striking the track. And thats its only source of power, so its always going down in a lightning storm. So ya have to add a battery car or something that allows it to still operate in a power failure. And 2) you have to smooth out the track a bit. Disney''s monorail is only capable of about 45 mph. Smooth out the track a bit and get it up to a more adults version. A 60 mph or a 80.

[rational_1]

"There is no train on the route - Amtrak''s Desert Wind between Los Angeles and Las Vegas was canceled in 1997 because of low ridership."

Does this little piece of information imbue you with any confidence that a whole new train system is a good idea? Wouldn''t it make sense to re-start that LA-Vegas route for a while if only to gauge rider interest?

[apprxam]

You''d think that they''d try to increase public transportation in the greater L.A. area, first, and take cars off those heavily use highways. But the moment you seen "diesel" in any bill as an "alternative", the only levitating taking place is that of "BIG OIL". When will we learn that anything politicians, especially George Bush and the RepubliCons, claim as one thing, always comes up oily.

[downsteamjim]

To Apprxam: Maybe we could power it with white elephants.

[apprxam]

DownStream....LMAO

[apprxam]

DownSteam, note that Disney & Las Vegas and not the interest of the public as the principle purpose for the PLAN.

Business is important, but citizens and worlers must count for something in these equations. Nothing about the need for CalTrans or L.A. MTA project. Highways, higways, highways is big money for oil companies, parts suppliers, gas refineries, etc.

People only as consumers and not their need of service improvements or government protection has been the way since the 80''s.

[cbsblogger]

As demonstrated in the picture of the Chinese train above, the Chinese have had this for years. They are already eating our economic and soon to be military lunch and it will only get worse.

We have a US government that is wholly focused on increasing the profits and compensation for multi-national corporate CEOs.

While these same multi-national corporations and CEOs are wholly focused on improving Chinese economic opportunities regardless of the economic costs to the USA.

When you combine a government and corporate world that is out to improve China and scrxw the USA you are seeing the outcome.

I%u2019m not sure the Dems are going to an improvement as our government is bought and paid for by special interests representing other countries such as China, Saudis and Israel.

[downsteamjim]

To cbsblogger: I know you hate profits. Here is what you should do: Drive an American Motors car. Fly TWA. Shop at Montgomery Ward. Support poor business practices and invest your money in companies losing money. I''ll throw an aluminum can to you if I see you walking on the side of the road.

[cdfoxtrot]

"There is no train on the route - Amtrak''''s Desert Wind between Los Angeles and Las Vegas was canceled in 1997 because of low ridership."

Does this little piece of information imbue you with any confidence that a whole new train system is a good idea? Wouldn''''t it make sense to re-start that LA-Vegas route for a while if only to gauge rider interest?

Posted by rational_1

You need public subsidy for train services. Americans have long had a difficulty in accepting that, thinking you need to see profit on everything, or toss it. Trains are good for the environment, good for low income people and good for society in general. But to work, given the enormous up front investment, and requirements in terms of frequency and where they go, they need public subsidy. No one has a problem with highways getting built and maintained with public money, but trains, which would cost a tiny fraction of highway spending, are taboo in the US, which, ironically, is perfect for high speed trains, given the large size of the country and population concentrations in major urban centers.

[ioweign]

Drive an American Motors car. Fly TWA. Shop at Montgomery Ward.

Posted by downsteamjim at 04:22 PM : Jun 07, 2008


See, Corporate Welfare doesn''t work...

[caldwellptr]

The New York City subway carries over 1 billion passengers every year.

Las Vegas - Los Angles: If you build it they will come.

[caldwellptr]

The New York City subway carries 4 million passengers a day, the same number of people who live in Houston, Atlanta or Philadelphia year round.

Las Vegas - Los Angeles: If you build it they will come

[rational_1]

You need public subsidy for train services. Americans have long had a difficulty in accepting that, thinking you need to see profit on everything, or toss it. Trains are good for the environment, good for low income people and good for society in general. But to
Posted by cdfoxtrot at 04:45 PM : Jun 07, 2008

I don''t disagree with you on anything you wrote, but it does concern me that they closed down a line between LA to Vegas due to lack of ridership and now propose to build a new expensive one. I didn''t read in the article any estimates of ridership and why their new route will necessarily get more riders than the last one they abandoned. Seems to me the expected usage should be estimated before embarking on something of this scale.

[cockapoo8]

Also, I''m not convinced exposure to high levels of electromagnetic radiation via high powered magnets is free of ill side effects, both for the passengers, and the community. Has the government started testing this? Or are they too busy with baseball?

[cockapoo8]

Electromagnetic radiation, I''m told, makes chicks grow teeth in their vaggginas. Whats it gonna do to me? Turn my nose into a siphon?

[rudy654-2009]

You need public subsidy for train services. Americans have long had a difficulty in accepting that, thinking you need to see profit on everything, or toss it. Trains are good for the environment, good for low income people and good for society in general. But to
Posted by cdfoxtrot at 04:45 PM : Jun 07, 2008

I don''''t disagree with you on anything you wrote, but it does concern me that they closed down a line between LA to Vegas due to lack of ridership and now propose to build a new expensive one. I didn''''t read in the article any estimates of ridership and why their new route will necessarily get more riders than the last one they abandoned. Seems to me the expected usage should be estimated before embarking on something of this scale.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rational_1 at 05:24 PM

So if you don''t agree, then you must feel that we need to be driving a SUV everyone and pumping hundreds of dollars of gas away just to live up to your nightmare of commercial greed. Wonderful. The worst thing about people like you is that you are so fixated in your own opinion of superiority that you offer nothing to humanity that is even worth looking at. You are hopeless.

The gub''ment can''t afford the infrastructure we have now, where are these funds going to come from??? Trains are NOT an eco-friendly solution, and if it were possiblr for them to be self-supporting they would not require government subsidies.

[rational_1]

So if you don''''t agree, then you must feel that we need to be driving a SUV everyone and pumping hundreds of dollars of gas away just to live up to your nightmare of commercial greed. Wonderful. The worst thing about people like you is that you are so fixated in your own opinion of superiority that you offer nothing to humanity that is even worth looking at. You are hopeless.
Posted by rudy654 at 10:43 PM : Jun 07, 2008

Uhhhm, I said I didn''t disagree, which meant I agreed with him. The worst thing about people like you (to borrow your phrase) is that you can''t read.

[grabbag2]

I''m reading a lot of ignorant nonsense.

I have ridden on the French TGV in France. (in english: high speed train) Version one is now almost 28 years old. It does 120 mph and runs day in and day out year after year reliably. This thing even leans into the curves like a race car! Version II is 40% faster! The Germans, Chinese, and Japanese also have well engineered systems and have been developing mag-lev systems. These systems serve the public interest, and are VERY fuel efficient compared to cars. This stuff has to be well engineered, yes. We should have invested in the technology when the French did. As a nation we have been too tied to automobiles.

[frankbowers]

How sad they would steal 45 million of the US highway tax tyo lbuild a road for the rich and carefreebastards out there. Why not build a road thet will serve america as a whole and let the rich pay there chaufers to drive them on the road like the rest of have to do, they are not ging to spend all their money and it will give them plenty of time to call their friends to tell them where they are going. The train will be for the rich, as the poor can not afford such; the poor seldom go to VEGAS unless they are illegal and looking for work such as it is out there already.
Frank Bowers of Austin, TX

[cantshutup]

the europeans are sooo far ahead of us here in America,they''ve had these super trains for years,they have better roads, better public transportation, better sidewalks and lanes for bikes. Europe has the best transportation system on the planet and while Americans continue to sit on their thumbs whining about $4 gas Europeans go anywhere, everywhere they want with ease, economic satisfaction and comfort.When America is ready to come out of the dark ages as far as transport and economics is concerned, then you''ll start seeing SERIOUS efforts in improvements to our transportation and energy. Till then keep driving gas guzzling dinosaurs, don''t walk, don''t enjoy life.Also, does anyone realize that not only are we settling for inferior transport, energy and standard of living but someone has decided Americans just need dye in their food instead of real produce, someone has decided that Americans can just take a pill for what ails them. In Europe real strawberries in yogurt and dr''s tell patients to walk and excersize not like in America where we get yogurt with dye and pills for health. since when did Americans become such pus sies??18 years ago when i lived in germany, i paid $5gl for gas, didn''t drive without a purpose or plan, i used trains, buses,rode my bike,those were the days, gas was pricey but then germany wasn''t financing an illegal war and could afford to keep up good roads, great trains, excellent education and logical health care.Americans just don''t get it!

[beehive21-2009]

The people in Las Vegas,Ariz., utah what to go to the Beaches,built it.

[undermyboot]

The old train was canceled due to low ridership, and they want to spend billions anyway? And for a train from fantasyland to sin city? ***?

How about a useful corridor, like San Diego to LA? or LA to San Francisco? This is nuts!

[bptdude]

The article said the regular train service was cancelled, because nobody was riding it, right? NOT that too many people wanted to ride a train.. Los Angeles, where people only drive cars, not trains, right? Starting point is actually Disney, not the LA airport, right? And nobody sees what is next?

[rf35]

Maglev was a great idea when it was first proposed in the early eighties. 20 years later and this is as far as we''ve made it? It would take another 100 years to have any type of nation-wide maglev, if ever. Look at Japan. I never drove more than a few miles off-base. Didn''t need to. The trains got me where I needed to go and were about the same price when you factored in gas and road tolls. They have a nationwide electric train system and could convert to maglev if they so chose. We''re starting from the ground up. We''re starting with a route already proven to be under-used. It looks like the project is being set up to fail. Planned failure, brought to you by your own tax dollars and elected officials. Now who''s fault is that?