A bullet train that connects Los Angeles and San Francisco? Now, that is good news, especially for me who has to take the expensive plane every time I want to go down to L.A. from the Bay Area and vice versa. So, I ask myself, “What can possibly go wrong with such a wonderful idea?” Oh, but things can go very wrong when money comes into the picture. The initial construction figure of $33.6 billion for the bullet train has now risen to $42.6 billion. The project currently needs a $12 billion funding from the private sector investor, and a cash flow from the federal government in order to pay back the private sector’s investments. With the government budget in tight constraint, the railway planners are thinking of increasing the one-way fare of the train from $55 to $115 to attract more investors. But people will not be willing to pay such a high price, especially when they were hoping that the trains would be cheaper alternative to planes. Even for me who loves trains, I would take a plane that only costs about $120 round-trip during the off seasons.

But it does disappoint me greatly to see that the idea of building a bullet train is starting to lose its appeal because of financial shortcomings. I have always hoped that there were more trains in California for people who cannot drive long distances or cannot afford a plane. But my love for trains goes beyond the practical reasons of low cost, convenience, environmental benefits, reduction of traffic, etc. What I love about trains is its emotional benefit; the way it slows down the world and makes you experience the moment in its pure state without any distractions.

The one-way trip from L.A. to San Francisco by the proposed bullet train takes only about two hours and forty minutes, so the train is obviously not an old-school steam locomotive that makes you think of the 1830s. However, the idea of riding in a train brings a different sense of nostalgia, as if the flurry of our daily lives has slowed down a little. Instead of driving as fast as you can to one destination or riding an airplane solely for its speed, the experience of riding a train has a certain sense of relaxation. You feel the train moving forward to a destination, yet all you can do at that moment is to enjoy the ride. All you can do is hear the wind swishing and feel the car bouncing up and down.

It is possible that only few people in this world truly like or even care about riding the train for the experience that it offers. However, I feel that sometimes it does not hurt to slow down in your life and take the time to actually experience the moment with all of your senses. Now a train, whether it was built for efficiency, speed, or lower cost, is a perfect way to do that.

Sources / Related Websites

Some fear California’s high speed rail won’t deliver on early promises, Los Angeles Times

Getting Up to Speed, The New York Times Magazine

Study: High-speed rail would drain passengers from Bay Area airports, San Jose Mercury News

Outline of Railroad History, About.com