Doesn't Dtg Have An Amtrak License Any More?

Another problem with Amtrak in TSW is station stops- there aren't any. Or rather, there aren't two, which is kind of critical. For example, the Capitol Limited runs over Sand Patch Grade- but its only stop within the game route's boundaries is at Cumberland. So it isn't even A to B, it's A to nowhere.

 

A major drawback to intercity hi-speed rail in the U.S. isn’t just the distances but the fact most U.S. cities lack viable public transportation once you arrive. The mentioned Houston to Dallas high speed rail while very feasible as for distance and travel time fall apart once you arrive. The distance between the East and West city limits for Houston is 45 miles. Without robust and extensive intra- city transportation services one would have to resort to either renting a car or using Uber or some such service. The cost then becomes prohibitive to where for it is actually cheaper and more convenient to drive your own vehicle for the 3 hour trip between these two cities.

Don’t get me wrong, I would enjoy seeing high speed rail in the U.S., but because of the way most of our cities are designed for automobiles and the lack of viable public transportation once you arrive, I do not see such services becoming viable.

 

US needs a lot of change to make that happen, can’t see it happening, definitely not in a reasonable time anyhows.

 

Only way I see that happening quickly is thru alot of death and destruction sadly.

 

Would death and destruction increase the potential fare base? I doubt it....

 

Depending on how the infrastructure is rebuilt, on top of other factors, fare base could increase if rail was a more viable option than driving.

 

maybe cos in 70s/80s government went nuts on supporting everything cars and made an interstate freeway network and all and gave a huge middle finger to rail... when it is done properly, and is also marketed properly, it can be viable... but the way it is done in some parts of US, yeah, even I as a rail lover wouldnt use that - I mean, walking through huge parking lot, with barely functioning ticketing, services running only couple times a day at fcked up times, and running on slow diesel, delays cos freight companies dont give a fck about passenger rail... I could go on and on... it can be done, but atm there isnt enough will to go for it

why do you think Amtrak is so desperate to renew its fleet and all? they look at Europe and other parts of the world and then back at US and are ashamed... but at least they do sth, try harder... and yes, Brightline Florida and such, those are isolated cases, but once those kick off, take root, other parts of US and the public will take notice that it can work... maybe it will never reach its former glory, but it can improve over time

hell, here they finally started works on electrifying like 4km from Bratislava-Devinska Nova Ves to Marchegg, including renovation of an old steel bridge... and it will take until December to do it... in a fcked up country like mine lol... if we can do it, US can as well

 

maybe they should abduct some Amtrak officials and a couple powerful US ppl to Vienna and force them to travel around the city and surroundings until they learn whats proper public transportation and passenger rail, lol

 

"If you build it, they will come" only works in fairy tales. Sure, Amtrak's bureaucrats want shiny new trains- but they'll be just as empty as the current trains. And if they increase the number of services per day, then they'll be even emptier than the existing services, just dividing up the same handfilul of passengers. Over North American distances, nobody wants to ride a train for hours when they can fly.

(PS: the interstate highway system was built in the 1950s and 60s; it was already in place by the time the passenger rail market collapsed.)

 

Can't speak for anyone else, but a train journey is a better experience than flying, even over large distances.

 

If I'm going to Miami, I would much rather spend 2-1/2 hours than 23 crammed in a metal tube with a bunch of strangers. Or if I can't fly, then spend the time on the highway with my own music and no unwelcome company.

 

And Amtrak San Joaquin "Officially" debut them today and passengers hate them. Worse seats and no cafe car, replaced by vending machines.....

 

Well, for some reasons, quite a lot of countries have invested in high speed rail...this general 79 miles/hour restriction for rail maybe a leftover of the steam aera, but don't apply to nowadays possibilities. The actual world record for railroading is at a blasting 374 mph. And looking around the world outside the US, high-speed railroading is a worldwide phenomenia. Even though, it sometimes seems to be quite ridiculous, that the bigest country in the world is completely denying the benefits of it... With todays possibilities, it would reduce travel times in the US by at least two thirds. But well, the US is still sticking to 79 mph limit at all, while all around the world trains are allowed to go 100 mph before entering the high speed section.

 

Countries like Indonesia with very small land mass like Japan, yes. Indonesia recently completed it's first ever high speed line based on China's high speed (secret) technology.

Morocco has too but only connecting two major population centres.

France is the odd one out where the land mass is a little bigger similar to the size of the state of Texas. But France is one of these countries that is not going down the green energy (expensive and less reliable) path. They are consistent with production of cheap baseload energy from nuclear power.

Japan also has nuclear power and is starting to bring reactors back online. They are not happy with Australia at the moment as with the current Australian government making coal and gas exports less reliable they cannot trust us.

It seems someone has told them that this energy target is unfeasible.

The party's own page (propaganda!) has a bunch of statements on it that are clearly not true.

Now getting back to Amtrak licensing in the United States.

I am doubtful that any freight routes will get produced now unless a philanthropist comes forward or two things happen.

1 Crowdfunding by the freight community. (or a developer to go out on it alone which is possible too)

2 Or a community driven project to build a route using volunteers to produce 3d assets and do route building, using the public editor.

 

again, if everything is done car-centric and in a manner thats not really convenient to use, are you surprised that so few people ride trains?

and again, I know Vienna is different case, but still, in 60s/70s it was also a car-centric city/environment... once they got their sh.t together and nice and running, there are still ppl who prefer cars but ridership rises year to year

of course people wont ride trains if it is done in a sh.tty way

 

i know you comment is tongue in cheek, but the real problem is WHEN the cities were built. I am sure Vienna has been around for a few centuries longer than Houston and as it expanded it did so within the confines of the available transport systems available at the time. Meaning you had neighborhoods that were pretty well self-sustaining. You could walk to the grocery, cafes and restaurants to serve the local areas. Our older cities like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and to some extent Washington DC do reflect such characteristics. Newer cities that have greatly expanded iin the early 1900s became built more on the suburban type layout (ironical because of trollies, trams and commuter trains) which were quickly replaced by the automobile. Today, in most cities, you have neighborhoods with housing and you must travel to the shopping centers while the business areas are located elsewhere.

It is encouraging that more and more large urban areas are investing in light rail and metro bus systems, but they are still considered very inconvenient to those who are use to the freedom of their own vehicle to be able to go to where they want, when they want.

 

Crowdfunding will not work. Dtg can have all the money they want but if they can't get reference material or access, it means nothing and they still can't create the route.

 

yes, Vienna is old, but any real transport networks only really started developing during 19th century, especially during the reign of Franz Josef I. - first "buses", first trams and Stadtbahn (many stations of U4 and almost all of U6 is built upon the former Stadtbahn corridors)... and as for subway and S-bahn, S-Bahn started in 60s and subway late 70s... when NY, Boston and such already had massive networks...

and lets say Sudbahnhof compared to current Hauptbahnhof was a disaster, Hauptbahnhof tho is a state of art example how to connect... everything into a big hub if you visit Vienna one day, I will be happy to be a guide O

 

You may use crowdfunding for non commercial developers, but not for DTG. I doubt it's legally possible. Other than that, I'd not do it anyway. I'm funding good Early Access developers.

 

Might have to take you up on that… Vienna is still on my bucket list… but we should get back on topic… high speed rail in the Northeast works well - I used the Acela several times between Boston, New York and DC. All 3 cities have good public transport so the need of a car at the terminations is greatly reduced.

 

N3V did it for Trainz A New Era. Luckily I only bought into the low level side but felt sorry for those who invested a large amount of money and what we got back in return was, at least initially, a buggy mess that burned out peoples' hardware. Think Elite Dangerous was also crowdfunded, though I only bought the game after release when it was being sold really cheap for something outrageous like £4. In fact the add on that allowed you to land on planets cost me more than the core game.

And while I don't always agree with rennekton#1349 on this he is right. In addition if you haven't got staff with the particular set of skills, then you're jiggered.

 

Crowdfunding game development through Early Access, ok. But a DLC for an existing commercial game? Nah...

Come on, look at TSC. The freeware scene is huge and doing impressive work. Many are humble and do appreciate a donation, but never demand money.

 

I think I’m in agreement here, Crowdfunding to make a dlc to sell for profit seems to defeat the justification for Crowdfunding, you would be paying someone to eventually charge you and make profit for themselves, kinda like giving DTG money and then separately going to buy a dlc from them.

 

People that give money will get the DLC for free.......
Profits made would be pooled for next route.

 

Well that’s not always how crowdfunding works. As with Trainz A New Era the reward was proportional to the initial investment. I put something like £10, got a couple of desktop wallpapers and still had to buy the game. Put another way, given DTG’s reliability and dependability I would rather wait and pay £25 or £30 up front for a DLC I actually want, than put £40 in a crowdfund for something which has no certainty of getting made.

DTG from what has been written are doing quite well financially so have no need of money up front to fund worthwhile projects. N3V crowdfunded TANE because they were basically skint, after the various other software flops under Auran.

And as already mentioned no amount of money is going to overcome a train operator’s unwillingness to allow access for research and sound recordings.

 

so give 50p get a dlc for free when others pay a usual of £25 or £30 ?

seems strange, a donation is a donation and an asking price is an asking price otherwise.