High speed railroad to Asia

If Americans become more accustomed to using high speed railroad for intercity travel within densely populated regions in the lower 48 states, it can only lead to greater support for extending rail service to Alaska and beyond to Asia and Europe. 

For this reason, the White House announcement Thursday to commit funds to developing high speed railroads in ten areas around the United States is a small step toward eventual freight and passenger rail service from New York and Chicago to Beijing and Moscow. 

Some critics of the new White House plan are flabbergasted by the idea of rail service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. I have to wonder whether these were the same people who predicted that cell phones would never catch on. "Americans will never," it was said back in the days, "make phone calls while walking down a street!" 

The fundamental assumption supporting air travel is that travel time is down time, and so it is always better to choose the travel option that will minimize the time it takes to arrive at the next destination. This assumption is increasingly challenged by mobile phones and the Internet. 

We are becoming less dependent on physical location. More people are working, paying bills and pursuing academic degrees from a variety of locations -- from home, in the park, on a train to New York. Advances in smart phone technologies mean that the office and all its contents will fit into your pocket. 

Soon, more people will begin to ask, "If I can work while I travel, then what's the rush in getting there?" 

This will not make people stop traveling all together. By nature, we want to go more places, meet more people, do more things we wouldn't do at home. 

Here are some advantages to rail travel based on my travels between Washington, DC, and New York.

1. No seat belt

2. When it's time to board, keep your shoes on.  

3. Cell phone and Internet service (usually -- Amtrak needs to improve this point)

4. Get up and go to the toilet anytime -- even during "take off and landing." 

5. Better scenery

6. More leg room

7. Stations are in the city, not an hour or more away. 

8. Your ears don't pop. 

9. Crying baby in row behind you? Move to another car.

10. You'll never have to land in the Hudson.