As long as it doesn’t stop in any high crimes areas on the pensulia it would be ok.

I'm very much in favor of this kind of rail service, and very willing to pay for it. But let's not fool ourselves about the cost. It will not be cheap. The differences between building on the north side of the James and the south side are pocket change in the long-term.

Europe's extensive rail network works as well as it does because of 1) population density is high, 2) countries and cities are relatively close to one another, 3) no single system has to worry about being transcontinental and 4) high gasoline prices. But perhaps most important, but least noticed by tourists, European rail systems are very heavily subsidized by their national governments.

For America to have decent rail service, we must learn to look upon it as we do interstate highways. Highways are considered essential, but do not pay their way in any direct retail sense. They stimulate growth and development along their corridors, though, that provide indirect payback. This is how it'll be for rail, too. But anyone who expects it ever to pay its way directly, or faults it for not being able to do so, is missing the point.

It will cost much less to build it there for this reason - plus you do not have to deal with crossing major water that direction.

Passenger rail transport will only become popular when gasoline and aviation fuel gets much more expensive. Cargo transport will become popular then too. Railroad transport is the the cheapest, most efficient way to move anything over land. As it is, the airlines, trucking and auto industries carry more weight with our political representatives than those of the railroad industry. Fuel prices have only one way to go: UP. We need to start the planning for more railroad service now and not later.

Norfolk Southern's 460 route should prove to be more advantageous. Petersburg, a national monument, could use the through traffic. Additionally, the less traveled Southern route along with substantial tax incentives to NSC to build and operate the high speed rail service would seem a smart idea.

Route 64, along the more Northern route, is a more than adequate thoroughfare as is. Don't waste our scarce tax dollars on a double line idea until the Southern route proves itself successful, or vice-versa in regard to a Northern route.

The high speed "anything" is a step in the right direction....I've been to Europe for the last 20 years and they have the best high speed transportation in the world and it's cheap...they have 15 day euro-rail passes and 30 day euro-rail passes....that takes you everywhere...it's awesome...This will never happen in America because we depend on the "The Big Three" and cars, motorcycles, trucks, gas & oil...you know the deal...could you imagine jumping on a train in Norfolk and you're in Chicago in a couple of hours...plus you get to walk around eat, drink, sleep, lot's of leg room...(etc.) right now you can take amtrack from new york to L.A and it takes about a week....I use to take trains from Hamburg Germany at 1100 pm and arrive the next morning at 0600 in Paris, France. Then from Paris to Rome in no time....bouncing all over Europe...anyways, thanks for listening...