Re: Why trains don't catch on here in the "ex-colonies".
Reply #78 –
Don't be so negative It's true our tourist profits plummeted in the recession. Further, the facts remain the economies of Nevada and California got their heads handed to them in the recession. But there's so considerable reason for optimism. The LA to LV stretch is to be only the first leg of a network connecting all the metropolitan areas of the Southwest, many of which are growing rapidly. This creates not only a much larger market for the service, but more reason to use it besides tourists coming to LV to blow their money (which we happily relieve them of carrying, being ever so helpful )
Then there's the changing nature of Nevada's economy. While I'm a little ticked at Governor Sandoval of the issues with Nevada Energy (see the last few posts of the Global Warming thread), under him the economy of Nevada is finally diversifying. This expands the reason reason for travel to LV to more business travel. Also let's not forget half of Nevada has friends and relatives in California. It will be faster (and possibly cheaper) to take the high-speed rail back and forth instead of driving, which is trip that's also hard on the car since you have to traverse high mountains to find yourself in Death Valley of all places.