Mercury Times' columnist John Horgan has netted out the high-cost rail situation quite nicely here. The essence of it is
Caltrain, which relies on heavy subsidies from three counties for its day-to-day functions, is a relatively successful transit setup. Can you imagine what the taxpayers will be responsible for if high-speed rail ever graces this area and other parts of California?
Every unbiased analysis of HSR's projected operating costs indicates deep and abiding deficits as far as the eye can see. Who will have to pick up those ongoing costs? We will.
Which is why San Mateo County critics of HSR tend to miss the point. They constantly clamor to have HSR "done right" along the same corridor used by Caltrain.
But, using every available objective study published so far, it can't be. It's a false premise.
High-speed rail is a guaranteed financial loser just waiting to saddle the state's taxpayers with one more unbearable burden, not to mention the eventual cost of servicing the debt imposed by the construction itself. After all, bond dollars aren't free.
You can read parts 1 to 45 by clicking here, but this is the bottom line and it's all RED.
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