this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024

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356

California launches electric trains as US lags behind world in rail electrification (youtu.be)

submitted 4 weeks ago by Beaver@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world

47 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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[–] Beaver@lemmy.ca 68 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

One guy had too much oil propaganda

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 58 points 4 weeks ago

Ever seen a gas powered gas pump? Me neither.

[–] eskimofry@lemmy.world 35 points 4 weeks ago

One of the reasons I am an atheist. I mean what was God thinking making these morons?

[–] kaboom36@ani.social 18 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do they really think the 30 computers in their car will survive an EMP?

[–] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

or the oil infrastructure?

[+] Kaboom@reddthat.com -43 points 4 weeks ago (5 children)

In California? They have black outs every summer. The power going out is a valid concern

[–] bobthecowboy@lemmy.world 38 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Lived in California (SoCal and Bay Area) my entire 42 years.

No, we don't.

There was a short, planned outage in my neighborhood (San Diego suburbs) last summer - we got a few days notice (can't recall if it was a letter or an email). Didn't have one the summer before that. I don't recall any power outages when I lived in the Bay Area.

[–] undefined@links.hackliberty.org 25 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

We have power outages from time to time in my part of SoCal, but the power lines cross through a fire hazard zone. Guess what’s causing it to become more hazardous? Climate change.

This is more about modernizing the grid and adapting to climate change (caused in large part by fossil fuels), and I’m happy to live in a state that invests in infrastructure while trying to solve the problems we’ve been dealt. I can’t say my native red state was doing anything remotely productive (unless the fed was handing out money of course).

[–] mle86@feddit.org 25 points 4 weeks ago

If the power goes out there will be no signalling on the tracks, no barriers or traffic lights at level crossings, no lights or announcements at train stations, etc.

Even though a diesel locomotive technically could run with no external power, no regular train will be operating during a general power outage.

Same goes for an EMP, even though that would likely fry the diesel locos control systems anyways

[–] Quill7513@slrpnk.net 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Are you thinking of Texas?

[–] kirk781@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Blackout as in the city lights going out or the whole state grid failing?

[–] TheLowestStone@lemmy.world 11 points 4 weeks ago

As usual, you have no clue what you're talking about.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 62 points 4 weeks ago

You tend to lag behind when your laws are bought by corporate interests keen on keeping it the same

[–] kirk781@discuss.tchncs.de 30 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

Till 2019, <1 % of total rail in US was electrified according to Wikipedia? Is this true; considering that US was a world leader in terms of rail transport upto WW II, why the abysmally low numbers? I know that privatisation of rail networks and car centred cities makes life tough for rails, but 1 % is abysmally low for a developed nation.

In contrast, China is at 75% and India is at 93% respectively and both of them also have giant railway networks.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 27 points 4 weeks ago

The WW II US rail network is loonnnnggggg gone and doesn't really have any effect on the modern day. What remains is mostly freight rail run by a few oversized rail corporations... and they're surely in no hurry to abandon their diesel engines.

There's also not huge political pressure because rail is already a very efficient way to transport goods. Spreading rail would have better effects than electrifying rail.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

considering that US was a world leader in terms of rail transport upto WW II, why the abysmally low numbers?

We spent all our rail money on the interstate highways and their exorbitant maintenance costs.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

They’re probably not counting subways. It may even be just intercity rail, which mostly supports freight. You have thousands of miles of freight rail crossing the entire country, and only the Acela passenger track in the northeast is electrified

[–] undefined@links.hackliberty.org -1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Till

‘til*, short for “until.”

Sorry to be that asshole but it’s frustrating how often this is misused.

[–] Jeeve65@ttrpg.network 15 points 4 weeks ago

You are wrong, till is perfectly fine – and so is til. See Merriam-Websters article about this, at https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/should-you-use-until-or-till-or-til

[–] thedirtyknapkin@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

this might be a regional thing. I've never once in my life seen it spelled that was. to me til had only ever been an acronym for "today I learned"

[–] gandalf_der_12te@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What you mean like any sane country already did?

[–] Psuedocoder@programming.dev 6 points 3 weeks ago

India is at 95% and Switzerland at 99%. PS. Just found it in random news article so numbers might not be correct.

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.world 18 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Electric trains‽ that will never work, trains need to be loud and dirty.

[–] transientpunk@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

What the hell is this: ‽

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.world 20 points 4 weeks ago

It’s an interrobang‽

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 13 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I read that as "California launches electric trains at US..." and I was confused.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

I read your comment as "…electric trains AF…"

[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

That's just Oprah giving out free shit again

[–] Hominine@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

🏃🐝🏃‍♂️🐝🏃‍♀️🐝

[–] Jocker@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Mention trains and US becomes a Joke!

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Same with “cars” tbh.

Or “street cars.”

Or “high speed rail”

Or “public transport”

Man, there’s a lot…

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 3 weeks ago

TBH you could mention almost anyting and US would be a joke.

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 9 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm happy for a new streetcar line that is almost done in my area. My happiness is pretty pathetic and sad.

[–] felixwhynot@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago

Your happiness is valid 🙂

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

wouldn't be so far behind if muskrat didn't set us behind by about a decade due to his monorail project

[–] lettruthout@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

The rail lines...

The two new trains are operated by Caltrain... The trains were put into regular service the following day, running along the route between San Jose and San Francisco.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/12/24218547/caltrain-electric-train-us-lags-behind-india-china-eu

[+] Dingus_Khan@lemm.ee -29 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

[deleted]

[–] itsgoodtobeawake@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes. Fearmonger more. You keep up that driving! The rest of us will take advantage of more spare time to read while we cruise smoothly by the cars sitting in traffic. Truly a nightmare.

[–] anarchrist@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago

Lol OP ain't gunna read regardless

[–] LedgeDrop@lemm.ee 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Innevitably whatever public transportation you use the route will end up in the ghetteo.

This is a mindset that many people in the U.S. will need to get over before the "quality" of public transport improves: that busses, trains, subways are for "the poor".

I've been on the subways in New York and busses and trains elsewhere in the States. They're gross. Especially, compared to most of Europe (Italy, Denmark, Germany, etc). In Asia, they're also a clean. The mindset in Asia and Europe is "this is what people (not just the poor) take to get from point A to point B". There aren't school busses, the kids just take the same city bus/train/subway that all the other people take to get to work.

I've spent 45 minutes in the States on my daily commute staring at (and riding on) the bumper of the car in front of me. I've also spent 45 minutes, in Europe, peacefully riding the subway to work. I'm able to surf the web, watch a video, relax. I definitely enjoy/recommend the later experience.

[–] DeprecatedCompatV2@programming.dev 1 points 3 weeks ago

I'm pretty sure the socially unacceptable behavior from homeless drug addicts is driven by factors that drive homelessness and drug addiction and not by the preference of most people to avoid homeless drug addicts in public spaces. Unless you're implying law enforcement or society at large "clean up" public transportation...