For a near BANKRUPT STATE LIKE CALIFORNIA should not get involved with a TRAIN, that will cost millions of dollars. But the Governor only sees the cash from the federal government, other governors have turned down the money. BUT NOT JERRY BROWN. GOD HELP US

Wall Street Journal recently carried a story about how our Governor has blocked environmental reviews and protections that would otherwise delay this ill-conceived project. With leftist like Jerry Brown, the rule of law is for someone else, just like he and Lockyer did by refusing to defend voter-passed constitutional amendments. Clever, maybe, but certainly immoral.

Someone once said that "In a Democracy, the people get the government they deserve." Talk to your friends and neighbors about this. The November elections are coming on us rapidly.

Something smells really fishy about this, even for governor moonbeam.

You wanna bet that money destined for high speed rail was spent elsewhere with the governor intending to back fill the obligation when the federal funds become available. If the high speed rail project is terminated, and the federal funds disappear, this could leave the politicians in Sacramento with a lot of explaining to do.

This could mean millions in campaign donations for the Democrat controlled legislators. Billions of dollars in work and infrastructure ahead if the train is built. This is all about sharing the wealth of campaign funds that will be generated by donors seeking their share of the prize.

The train to nowhere, built by grateful union members, financed with smoke and mirrors, running the state off the rails.

I guess when you're a loser, can't do country, building a transportation system that will help you catch up with every other industrial country in the world is just crazy. Same with health insurance, infrastructure, education, equality. We can't do it. We can't afford it. It's a boondoggle. Thank God we had a greatest generation (The socialist Democrats of the 30's and 40's) who built us some buildings, dams and bridges that we can use until they crumble. Oh but we do have a the greatest military money can buy.

This, along with states and cities unfunded pensions are exactly the reason I am leaving the 'great'? state of CA.

@John

"Every other industrialized nation in the world" for the most part is in deep trouble. They're currently on welfare and ready to implode -- but they've got great trains!

Can someone explain why government subsidized Amtrak should keep running at a loss? Couldn't we use those tracks for a high-speed train?

To add to my comment above - If the high speed rail project got the ax today, the state would be on the hook for $1.3 Billion dollars.

This is why governor moonbeam wants to build out the central valley section. So he and his minions will not have to explain to the state populace why we are paying over a billion dollars for absolutely nothing!

The question is where is the money coming from that would pay for this obligation? We probably cannot finance it with bonds as we already are tapped out. If it is financed through unconventional loans the $1.3 Billion dollars soars through the roof.

Don't look to the rest of the nation to finance this white elephant. Everyone else in the US thinks this train to nowhere is as crazy as our governor.

Same Old Brown or S.O.B. as most of us know him.

Given I'm a resident of the Bay Area, the number one priority in Transportation for me is not Statewide, it's parking at a Bart station, especially in the Dublin/Pleasanton area. Can't the vacate land near the station be rented and converted to parking? It's a win win for local commuters and the landlord until such time as the land is saleable.

I've never understood why the state didn't go after those fed dollars to extend BART to Livermore and behond; to San Jose - a major regional employer - add parking so that you can actually use the system; upgrade the trains that are among the oldest in the USA. Seriously, folks, who would drive out to the central valley to board a train to LA for more than it costs to fly?? How about a road from Newman to San Jose?