01-28-2010, 07:26 AM
The scary part of this is the 38.3 million dollars per mile price tag, and that doesn't include the land acquisition, and if they go with Maglev it will be over a billion per mile final cost. Then we have operating expenses. Now will someone smarter then I am please do some math and see where this is a great investment. A lot of pocket jingle to spread around here. How many people make this commute daily? Tourists will still drive so they can have their cars and go North a different route.
I love trains, but IMHO this is pie in the sky waste, and the construction cost is way out of line.
I would guess rail can be had for $1000 a ton, and I know a great tie can be had for less then $100, so for 300 miles I say you have 75 million in rail, 100 million in ties (should be less) 70 million for plates and allow another 70 mill for anchors and spikes. Then there is the cost of ballast, building bridges, grading, and labor. Then we string the wire. I know what it will cost, and I know what it should cost. The difference is what ticks me off. (don't forget they need to acquire the land too, not included in the price). You pad the price with EPA fees, engineering fees, architect fees, inspection fees, flagmen fees, utility fees.
Sorry I am a bit Jaded.
Charlie
I love trains, but IMHO this is pie in the sky waste, and the construction cost is way out of line.
I would guess rail can be had for $1000 a ton, and I know a great tie can be had for less then $100, so for 300 miles I say you have 75 million in rail, 100 million in ties (should be less) 70 million for plates and allow another 70 mill for anchors and spikes. Then there is the cost of ballast, building bridges, grading, and labor. Then we string the wire. I know what it will cost, and I know what it should cost. The difference is what ticks me off. (don't forget they need to acquire the land too, not included in the price). You pad the price with EPA fees, engineering fees, architect fees, inspection fees, flagmen fees, utility fees.
Sorry I am a bit Jaded.
Charlie