Highroad.com concept in the Rail News

Have you seen the Highroad concept that appeared in Rail News the other day? A doctor in Florida proposes a 600 mph railroad to be elevated in the median of interstate highways. The "sleds" (not cars) are to be suspended by maglev but propelled by jet engines, and one's automobile is to be clamped on for the ride! I have asked the doctor a few questions, such as how does an automobile survive a 600 mph wind? How is centrifugal force handled when turns on interstates are designed for maybe 75 mph and the sdleds will be rounding them at 600 mph? Why use a jet engine when linear induction motors are much quiter and more efficient?

I then found another article about this in the Tampa Tribune. The good doctor is not a physicist or engineer, but a clinical psychologist! The people of Florida have approved a high speed train system and it seems ecveryone has a scheme to get some dollars out of it.

 

There must have been some story released somewhere, or else some one has a good urban myth going. Up here in the land of mountains, snaking roads and rail cuts, where nothing goes straight for more than 1/3 of a mile, a politician purposed a similiar kind of system to take folks from North Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia (they are bidding on the 2010 winter olympics and transportation is an issue).

First, I would like to know what mountains he plans to drill through to get straight track. Secondly, if there aren't straight track, you can just imagine the passengers pinned to their seats, or windows, or whatever as the G force of the curves at that speed took affect. I might even pay extra to see that effect, especially if the said politician is one of the passengers.

If anyone is familiar with BC Rail tracks from North Vancouver to Whistler, you will appreciate the stupidity of it all. Evidently the said stupid politician has never ridden the rails from North Vancouver to Whistler.