Instead of a pipeline from Canada to Texas...

[and-justice-for-all]

which is nothing more than a massive environmental disaster in waiting, how about HIGH SPEED RAIL from Maine to California and everywhere in-between.

[midnight]

1. I like that idea...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That's a much better idea...

But of course, the oil companies wouldn't like it...

And they always get their way.

:eyes:

[Broderick]

3. Under the Cloak of Manufactured Crisis by the FOR PROFIT

media; the signing went down. Nobody seems to care cause they rather blather about the apocalypse that just happened and cover for the Corporations that cost many a poor folk a personal tragedy of pawning their only valuables, title loaning their only transportation, spending next months' rent now or getting advance payment of payroll checks at exorbitant interest rates... But the corporatist apologists here want you too look over there, not to what happens under the cloak of crisis, and want to you feel sorry for some wealthy citizens that live in opulence on the coast that lost their homes while they jet setted to safety.

[Llewlladdwr]

4. What will the HIGH SPEED TRAINS run on? NT

[saras]

5. Solar power gathered along the railroad right-of-way, of course

[sharp_stick]

7. Only until it clouds over or snows

then everyone has to get out and push.

[saras]

11. No, you store power when there's excess (you use regenerative braking too, instead of friction)

You only have to push after the Republicans figure out how to put the sun out.

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. Where's the (mega) profit in that?

:evilgrin:

[northoftheborder]

8. How about a water line from New England to Texas?

[Warpy]

9. That would be a great thing for human beings

but won't enrich the Koch brothers and other Texas oil barons so it can't possibly be a viable project.

[and-justice-for-all]

10. What would they run on you ask??

Well, it can run on standard train fuel, which is fine because if your moving hundreds of people at once it makes up for the energy consumption. 500 people on a train versus 500 autos on the highway; I think the train wins. Even when compared to flight, it is more energy efficient to move the same number of people by rail then it is to fly them.

Deutsche Bahn uses the following system for their trains.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrification_system

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Germany

And why stop with electrification, why couldn't the US be a leader in something again besides illegal occupations of foreign countries.
A coast to coast MAGLEV system would be better than the Electrification system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_%28transport%29

I vote for a national MAGLEV Train system.