E) Intercity Skytran Routes
This fourth example compares a proposed San Francisco to Los Angeles high-speed rail link to a SkyTran installation for the same purpose.The difference between $12.6 billion and $.825 billion is $11.8 billion. This saving is enough to build a complete 3D SkyTran grid in both the San Francisco bay area and the entire Los Angeles area (Los Angeles County plus San Bernardino County and Orange County).
High Speed Train
SkyTran w/ 100 stations
Cruise Speed 125 mph
100 mph
Average travel speed due to stops at 6 stations 100 mph
100 mph (only stops at your destination)
Total system miles 450 miles
450 miles
Time to travel 450 miles 4.5 hours 4.5 hours Total number of vehicles (?)
25,000
System Cost $12.6 billion
$0.825 billion*
% of High Speed Rail Cost 100%
6.5%
Hourly passenger capacity 1,000 (500 in each direction)
2,000 (4,000 if 2 persons per vehicle)
Maximum daily capacity 8,000 (four trains, one round trip per day)
50,000 (100,000 if 2 persons per vehicle)
Expected daily capacity 8,000
8,000
Annual gross income from fare revenues $262 million
$262 million
Annual expenses Assume $0**
$75 million
Excess remaining after expenses Same $262 million
$187Million
Annual return to State for its transportation investment 2.1%**
22.7%
*The conclusion here is that an on-demand Inter-City SkyTran system can carry you from one city to the other in the same exact time as the proposed "High" Speed Rail system, but for a fraction of the capital investment cost. SkyTran is also more convenient to use, has higher carrying capacity and can return a reasonable profit to the State. Additional stations and routing can be added to an inter-city route for minimal additional cost, giving the system the flexibility of multiple starting and finishing locations. ** Annual expenses for energy, maintenance, operations, salaries of operators, facilities, etc. of high speed trains typically exceed the annual income from fare revenue. Obviously, even with zero expense the annual return to investors is awful. High speed rail also means big $ for law suits every time a pedestrian is run over and killed or a derailment crash occurs.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, May 25, 1990, "SF-LA Rail Link urged by year 2000."
Alternatively, that $12.6 billion for high speed rail could be used to build 6,400 miles of SkyTran track and 1 million SkyTran vehicles. If the average commuter is making a 10 mile daily commute, this system would have the capability to complete 4,000,000 such 10 mile trips per hour!
Cost and time saving benefits for intercity travelers: This figure and table show the cost and time saving benefits for intercity travelers, if the money saved was used to build complete SkyTran 3D networked grid systems to cover both the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.
Comparison Of San Francisco To Los Angeles Travel Times
High Speed Rail
SkyTran
Jet Airplane
Drive to San Francisco station 30 min
10 min (walk)
30 min
Park, check in, wait for departure 30 min
0
60 min
Board and prepare for departure 10 min
15 sec
20 min
Rail: time with 6 stops to LA 4.5 Hours
NA
NA
SkyTran: non-stop time to LA NA
4.5 Hours
NA
Airplane: taxi and take off NA
NA
15 min
Airplane: climb out, fly, descend NA
NA
60 min
Airplane: land, taxi, deplane NA
NA
20 min
Walk to rental car booth, check in 15 min
NA
15 min
Get rental car 15 min
NA
20 min
Drive to Los Angeles destination 30 min
10 min (walk)
30 min
Total Times 6.7 Hours
4.8 Hours
4.5 Hours
One Way Cost Estimates $125 + $30 for car
$45
$90 + $30 for car
