Derailed

I like trains and the idea of high-speed rail as much as the next guy who's not a train buff. I also hate traffic. I am, however, realistic.

The vaguely proposed California high-speed rail project is simply a way-too-expensive toy, a vehicle for doling out political rewards, for a state that is out of money. There's been much news lately about the wildly rising cost projections of this incompleted concept.

The Los Angeles Times printed a some letters responding to their editorial on the matter.

E.G. Rice of Marina del Rey wrote:

The only high-speed thing about the so-called bullet train is the rate at which its projected costs are rising. Earth to The Times: Air travel is faster, cheaper and more convenient than the proposed train, so why would anyone choose it over flying? The dining car?

You're proposing that a nearly bankrupt state spend huge amounts of money so we can watch half-empty passenger trains shuttle between Bakersfield and Chowchilla really fast. Apart from repealing "Obamacare," I cannot think of a higher priority for voters than killing this mother of all boondoggles.

Well said.

California taxpayers yet unborn can’t afford this project.