HIGH SPEED RAIL TURNS 60

Happy 60^th birthday to high speed rail.  It was on October 1^st in 1964 that the Shinkansen, Japan’s revolutionary super-fast train, made its debut. 

Known as the “bullet train” because of its aerodynamic shape, the Shinkansen (which translates as “new trunk line”) made the run from Tokyo to Osaka in 4 hours and 40 minutes compared to the conventional trains, which took two hours longer. 

Today, with the evolution of Japanese rail technology, the run now takes just 2 ½ hours, averaging about 200 mph.  In peak hours the trains leave every three to five minutes, each carrying up to 1300 passengers.

In contrast, Amtrak’s fastest train, Acela, runs once an hour carrying a maximum of 304 passengers at an average speed (including station stops) of about 80 mph.  By the way, Acela may be the fastest train in the US but it’s not true high speed rail (defined as 155 mph or faster and running on dedicated tracks).

How did Japan beat the world to this concept?  Out of necessity.

After World War II, Japan experienced rapid economic recovery and growth. Urbanization increased dramatically, and major cities like Tokyo and Osaka became densely populated. There was an obvious need for faster and more efficient transportation to connect these urban hubs, especially along the Tōkaidō corridor, which was Japan’s busiest route.

Before the Shinkansen, conventional rail lines in Japan were heavily congested, especially between Tokyo and Osaka. The existing trains were slow, operated on  narrow gauge tracks and couldn't meet the growing demand for travel, both for business and leisure. Building a high-speed rail system would relieve this congestion and shorten travel times.

Japan also wanted to demonstrate its technological innovation and engineering prowess to the world, especially in the lead-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The Shinkansen became a symbol of Japan’s post-war recovery, showcasing cutting-edge technology in transportation and helping to raise its profile on the global stage.

Today there are over 1800 miles of high speed rail in Japan annually carrying 353 million riders, and they are already building a $64 billion maglev version that can go 314 mph.  It should be ready by 2034.

Japan Rail (JR) had hoped to export its expertise to other countries but only Taiwan adopted the technology and only in a limited fashion.

France quickly followed with its TGV, la Train a Grande Vitesse (high speed train) introducing its first service in 1981 running between Paris and Lyon.  Today there are over 1700 miles of TGV service in France.

Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia and even Morocco operate high speed rail.  But it is China that has the most extensive network covering 28,000 miles of tracks. The line from Beijing to Hong Kong alone runs 1400 miles and, despite its speeds averaging 217 mph, takes 8.5 hours to complete its journey.  There’s even an overnight high speed train with sleeping cars.

In the US there’s a high speed rail project being built in California between LA and San Francisco and another line from LA to Las Vegas (Brightline West)… so we’re still playing catch-up.

 

A LONGSHOREMEN'S STRIKE IS COMING

There’s a storm brewing that may ruin your holidays.

On October 1^st some 45,000 dock workers at 36 different US East & Gulf Coast ports are expected to go on strike, shutting down almost half of all US imports by sea.  The effect of such a strike has been predicted to be “cataclysmic”, disrupting the global supply chain.

Remember post-COVID when store shelves were empty, construction delayed, pharmaceuticals in short supply and auto production disrupted?  Online orders were delayed and prices soared.

That could happen again, affecting not only you but the rest of the world.  The economic effects would measure in the billions of dollars a day.  Even a one day strike would take five days to recover from.  If a strike lasts a week, the cleanup would last until mid-November.  If it drags on for a month, well, we don’t even want to contemplate that.

Though West Coast ports would remain open if there’s a strike (different unions), there’s no way they could handle ships diverted from the East.  They just don’t have the capacity.

What kind of imports will be affected?  Think food, crude oil, electronics, clothing and, yes, holiday gifts. 

Anticipating this strike, shippers have been in a mad dash to boost shipments in recent months.  Imports are up almost 13% recently as companies try to build inventories before the ports are closed down.  That’s led to a huge backlog of empty shipping containers at US ports which, if they don’t get back to their homes, will mean further delays even after a settlement.

The principles in this standoff are the International Longshoremen’s Assoc (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance (USMX).  The union hasn’t had a new contract in six years and is seeking a 78% wage boost.  But their bigger concern is automation. Understandably, the ILA is worried about its members losing their jobs.

In advanced ports like Rotterdam, Singapore and Qingdao (China) the loading and offloading of containers and their transfer within the port is handled by computers.  The US unions claim that isn’t safe.

ILA members make good money:  $39 an hour, or just over $81,000 annually.  But with benefits and overtime, some NY dockworkers can make $200,000, often working 100+ hours a week.

Port Elizabeth NJ

The ports’ management, USMX, is made up of port operators and the world’s biggest shipping companies.  Their interests are in lowering costs and speeding up the operations.

The problem is, we’re about a week away from the strike deadline and the ILA and USMX aren’t talking.  They haven’t even met for negotiations in months.

The White House has so far refused to intervene.  If the strike is found to endanger national health or safety, the President could invoke the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act and impose an 80-day cooling off period.  But the pro-union Biden White House says that won’t happen.  Instead they urge both sides to negotiate.

In election years pundits always say “watch for an October surprise”, some unexpected event that changes everything.  A dock workers strike on October 1^st could be exactly that, though it won’t be much of a surprise.

 

 

TAKING THE TRAIN TO VERMONT

Like so many people, I absolutely love Vermont. But the journey to get there? Well, it’s not my favorite part.

From Fairfield County CT to Burlington, VT, it’s about 300 miles. Driving takes around five hours and costs roughly $35 in gas one-way. Flying might sound faster, but once you factor in the time to get to and from the airport, it’s not much quicker—and it’ll cost you at least $228 one-way.

But, there’s a fun, scenic alternative to ride north: Amtrak!

There are a couple of different trains that will take you to (or at least close to) Vermont?  Here’s a breakdown of each:

THE VERMONTER
This one’s your best bet! Running daily from Washington, DC, to St. Albans, VT (right next to Burlington), The Vermonter passes through Stamford around noon each day. It also makes stops in Bridgeport and New Haven before heading up the beautiful Connecticut River Valley, with Vermont stops in places like Brattleboro, Montpelier, Waterbury (for Stowe), and Essex Junction (for Burlington), just to name a few.

It’s not the fastest option (Stamford to Burlington takes around 8 1/2 hours), but it’s incredibly scenic and peaceful. Plus, with recent track upgrades, the ride is now an hour shorter!  Increased ridership recently added a fifth Amfleet coach to the train.

The newly refurbished Amfleet seats are super comfy, and for a bit extra, you can treat yourself to business class. The Amfood is much improved, the crew is always friendly, there’s a Quiet Car and yes—there’s free Wi-Fi! The train even hits 80 mph on smooth tracks, and the fall foliage views are unbeatable.

And here’s the real perk: Amtrak runs in all kinds of weather. So, if you’re planning a winter ski trip and a snowstorm hits, Amtrak will still get you there when highways and airports are shut down!

THE ETHAN ALLEN EXPRESS
Heading to the western side of Vermont, like Rutland or Burlington? The Ethan Allen Express is your train! It departs from Penn Station in New York City in the mid-afternoon and arrives at its final destination of Burlington around 10 p.m., stopping at places like Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Castleton, VT. There’s even a bus connection to Killington for ski lovers.

Now terminating in downtown Burlington, you’re in the heart of that vibrant city’s action, just steps from hotels and restaurants.  Rental cars also available nearby.

For those of us in Connecticut, the easiest way to hop on this train is from Croton-Harmon in Westchester County, where there’s plenty of long-term parking. Exciting news: there’s discussion about extending the Ethan Allen all the way to Montreal sometime in the future!

THE ADIRONDACK
While this train doesn’t go through Vermont, it used to be a fun option for those willing to take a ferry.  You could hop off its 12 hr. daily run from New York’s Penn Station to Montreal on the western shore of Lake Champlain and see Burlington across the lake.  But alas, the old ferry from Port Kent NY to Burlington is no more, having been scrapped during the pandemic.

 

So, if you’re dreaming of a trip to Vermont, why not make the journey part of the fun by letting Amtrak take the wheel?  It’s the "green" way to travel to the “Green Mountain State”.

LET THEM EAT... PIZZA?

When Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the revolution, was asked how to quell her starving peasant subjects, she is alleged to have said “Let them eat cake”.

And as history so often repeats itself, Governor Ned Lamont seems to be taking the same tact with grumbling Connecticut residents angry over utility pricing.  While he still refuses to call a special session of the legislature to address the issue, last week he presided over the unveiling of a new campaign to make Nutmeggers feel better about their lot.

Four signs were erected on the interstate entrances to our state, welcoming travelers by reminding them that Connecticut is “The Foodie / Submarine  / Basketball / Pizza Capital” of New England / The US / The World.  Don’t you just feel the pride?  Or is it more like confusion?

These braggadocio claims were produced by our state’s new Chief Marketing Officer Anthony Anthony (yes, that’s his real name) who reminded us that “Connecticut is a drive-to state, not a drive-through state”. 

Contemplate that the next time you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95 or I-91.

The reaction was swift and predictable, with the governors of New Jersey and Massachusetts picking a fight over the claims. Sure, Groton is the submarine capital, but everyone knows that the Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield MA and good food can be found throughout New England.  But “Pizza Capital of the United States”?  Really?  That’s the best you could do?

How could Connecticut music teacher Mrs. Fitzgerald cover all our state’s highlights in this two-minute ditty by Carmino Ravosa and our state’s CMO so misses the mark?

Because this was all intentional.

In an earlier life I was a News Director at NBC News.  Later I became a communications consultant and even wrote about it in my book “Off The Record: Confessions of a Media Consultant”.  I know how the media works.  And so does the Governor and his staff.

Don’t want to make the hard decisions about electric rates?  Just distract everyone with a phony debate about who has the best pizza. 

This quartet of signs cost CDOT all of $90,000 to produce, most of it paid for by the Feds.  Hoist the signs and then just stand back and watch social media spread the anger and confusion.  It’s all a brilliant distraction technique and we are gobbling it up.

Twitter memes like this seemed inevitable…

Who needs a special legislative session to solve utility costs when we’re instead talking about pizza?  We all have the attention span of a goldfish and the Governor and his media minions know it.

Notably missing from this conversation was another set of recently erected highway signs… the ones proclaiming how many people have died on CT roadways this year.  It’s a running tally… 224 year to date, and climbing. Those sobering reminders were the brainchild of the CDOT, which deserves kudos.

But hey… enjoy that pizza, peasants.