Posted by get real, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Jan 22, 2010 at 1:11 pm

This concern over High Speed Rail is sooooooo funny to me - i dont understand why people over the age of 70 even care, this project is at least 20yrs out in the future but the human life span is increasing!

This project will run out of money by the time construction between San Jose and Los Angeles is completed.

The most funny thing of all is Currently there is an old fashion slow loud whislting vibrating train that pollutes the environment.

If A High Speed ELECTRIC TRAIN was to come thru the Peninsula it will be so fast you would not hear it and probably wouldn't even see it go by. It won't vibrate and won't pollute.

So LETS HEAR WHAT ALL U PARANOID OVERCONCERNED OPPOSERS TO THE PROJECT HAVE TO SAY TO NOW!

Posted by Steve, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 22, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Get Real -

Do you speak from experience when you write: "If A High Speed ELECTRIC TRAIN was to come thru the Peninsula it will be so fast you would not hear it and probably wouldn't even see it go by. It won't vibrate and won't pollute."??

Or is this just wishful thinking on your part?

Check out this video of the Chinese HSR going by. It's a test so they apparently aren't moving at anywhere near full speed but it does still sound quite noisy to me. Note that the audio in the first half of the clip seems not to be working right. It only comes up after the train is passing. (You don't think it's going faster than the speed of sound do you?)

Web Link=

This is of more than academic interest to me since I live about 200 feet from the Caltrain tracks so these HSR trains would be shooting by my bedroom window about 20 times an hour(if Mr. Kopp's projections are anywhere near accurate). Add in the Caltrains and occasional (but very loud) freight trains and my chances of developing a sleep disorder go way up.

You're right - by the time this thing gets off the ground I'll probably be dead (or wishing I was). Let the next generation deal with this mess. Just like we're leaving them a huge national debt and a screwed up climate. Not my problem.

Posted by R.GORDON, a resident of another community, on Jan 28, 2010 at 11:00 am
R.GORDON is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online

Steve...........a suggestion since you bought so close to the tracks..

.....MOVE! They were there when you bought, I am sure.

Nexr.......did you hear the President mention that California is almost assuredly going to be built and bring employment to those many jobless.......and finished WAY before "GET REAL" surmises....I believe the deadline is scheduled way before the deaths of those 70 year olds with canes and wheelchairs in his area.

About his "noise complaint".........too funny! When airlines where actually flying and an industry, almost ALL the people affected by the landing and takeoffs had many more brain rattling experiences than a bullet train would cause or the frequency of going through your neighborhood.

Did you ever consider of backing a measure for the legalization of marijuana?.........VERY PROFITABLE and you can hardly hear it grow. I remember from science class, when we had schools.