Statewide Rail for California

[tomj]

This was an idea that I have had kicking around, which is what would a "useful" rail network be in California. California already has a "good" set of Amtrak lines, but I have thought up what could be a better map. Then I put it off cause I didn't have the time or photoshop skills to do it. Then I figured out I could do it using google maps and here it is. As for what the service would be, I only imagine upgrades of the current service. Maybe some areas electrified to have trains going 125 mph, but I didn't get into that. I'm just posting this to see what others think. Its mostly just changes to the existing Amtrak routes. [

[lensovet]

This all looks good but i would say the reasons it hasn't happened yet all fall into…

–geographic constraints
–capacity constraints (sometimes in combination with the previous)
-nonexistent populations (e.g. northern part of the state)

[tomj]

Not to mention monetary. I would say it is largely that. There are plenty of lines that could be upgraded to deal with the capacity issues along the corridors outlined. (Short of building a crossing between Richmond and San Rafael and whenever the standard rail transbay tube gets built.) Given how the spread out people are in California, there are some areas where a train is more convenient than driving is thanks to traffic. Having a more useful rail system would get people out of their cars. I know I would for one. Also all of the lines follow existing rail lines except the two I mentioned before. Not to mention upgrading railways is generally far cheaper than getting our highways from really deficient to deficient.


Also this link shows railways all around the world. I based the rail map above on the lines show here.
https://www.openrailwaymap.org/

[bdawe]

Not to mention monetary. I would say it is largely that. There are plenty of lines that could be upgraded to deal with the capacity issues along the corridors outlined. (Short of building a crossing between Richmond and San Rafael and whenever the standard rail transbay tube gets built.) Given how the spread out people are in California, there are some areas where a train is more convenient than driving is thanks to traffic. Having a more useful rail system would get people out of their cars. I know I would for one. Also all of the lines follow existing rail lines except the two I mentioned before. Not to mention upgrading railways is generally far cheaper than getting our highways from really deficient to deficient.


Also this link shows railways all around the world. I based the rail map above on the lines show here.
https://www.openrailwaymap.org/

People aren't really all that spread out though in California. It is the most urbanized state in the Union with the densest urban areas.

[mtuandrew]

I'm not clear on how trains would reach the North Coast, short of $X billions in new build and a massive repair of the Northwestern Pacific. Definitely would be all for San Francisco - Monterey corridor service, SFO-LAX daylight coast service, a second daily OAK-Shasta and OAK-Reno, and LAX-Yuma service. Also, the more you can link north and south California, the better you'll do with reducing the tension between your halves.