Israeli cabinet approves construction of high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and Eilat
New rail line aims to link Israel's periphery to the center; length of trip between Tel Aviv and Eilat would be reduced to two and a half hours.
Israel's cabinet on Sunday morning approved construction of a new high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and the southern port city of Eilat.
The electrified rail line will reach top speeds of 186 miles (300 km) per hour, allowing it to complete the trip in two and a half hours. The 220-mile long (350 km) route will include 63 bridges and five tunnels
"For 63 years, there has been talk about linking up the periphery to the center, but nothing has been done," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the new rail line would "change the face of the country."
Netanyahu emphasized the line's advantages as an overland route for passenger and cargo traffic. "We have the ability to create an alternative transportation route that bypasses the Suez Canal this is an insurance policy," he said.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-cabinet-approves-construction-of-high-speed-train-line-between-tel-aviv-and-eilat-1.411212
The Europeans get it. The Japanese get it, The Israelis get it. WHY DO WE GET HIGH SPEED RAIL IS A GOOD THIS?
tularetom
(23,664 posts)But this doesn't seem very "high speed" to me. A 220 mile trip in 2.5 hours is an average speed of 88 miles per hour. I believe the EU uses a minimum average speed of 200 kilometers per hour (about 125 mph). In the US the DOT also lists 125 mph as the minimum for designation as high speed.
Kurska
(5,739 posts)obvious reason. They probably settled for less speed in exchange for a drastically reduced cost.
Shadowflash
(1,536 posts)Even third world counties are putting in high speed rail. While backwards conservative legislatures in the U.S. are putting laws in place to ban it from their states before it's even through congress.
I think we have officially started the back slide to third world status.
DavidDvorkin
(19,510 posts)msongs
(67,502 posts)cstanleytech
(26,361 posts)politicians to say no to any such thing and to defund any attempt at implementing a real working rail system because if we had such a massive system in place the need for oil wouldnt be as high in this country because people would commute via rail if given a chance to if it was fast enough.
progressoid
(50,021 posts)Finance Ministry officials, however, objected to Katz's proposal that the project be carried out by China, saying it would not be possible to advance such a project without issuing a tender.