220-mph Solar-Powered Train Proposed In Arizona

Mike writes "An ambitious Arizona company has recently revealed plans for a solar powered bullet train that will streak across the desert at 220 mph, traveling from Tuscon to Phoenix in 30 minutes flat. Proposed by Solar Bullet LLC, the system comprises a series of tracks that would serve stations including Chandler, Casa Grande, Red Rock, and Marana, and may one day be extended to Flagstaff and Nogales. The train would require 110 megawatts of electricity, which would be generated by solar panels mounted above the tracks." Local coverage of the plan takes a harder look, noting that Solar Bullet LLC is two guys who are now asking local governments in the towns at which such a train would potentially stop for $35K for a legal and feasibility study. Total cost is estimated at $27B.

Simpsons did it

[SlappyBastard]

Two guys pitching a feasibility study? Sounds like the monorail episode of the Simpsons.

Re:Interesting

[dfm3]

Whether or not this would fly will all come down to cost.

I bet that regardless of cost, it won't. Because, well, it's a train, and last time I checked trains couldn't fly. :-P

Solar!

[Smivs]

traveling from Tuscon to Phoenix in 30 minutes flat

It is estimated that the journey at night could take up to 12 hours.

Monorail!

[bughunter]

Lyle Lanley:  Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
              Like a genuine,
              Bona fide,
              Electrified,
              Six-car
              Monorail! ...
              What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley:  What's it called?
Patty+Selma:  Monorail!
Lyle Lanley:  That's right!  Monorail!

[http://www.snpp.com/episodes/9F10.html]

Re:This is what the "new green economy" is all abo

[Archangel Michael]

Why yes. Yes it is! Welcome to the Obamanation

Re:Monorail, Monorail, Monorail

[digitalgiblet]

Solar powered train is more of a Shelbyville idea...

Solar Bullet LLC??

[Joe Snipe]

Solar Bullet LLC has already built trains in Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and by golly it put them on the map! [snpp.com]

Same idea

[Anonymous Coward]

I had the same idea a few years ago, except mine was along the lines of a highway, with the power going to cars. The road would be set up like a giant slot car track and the pannels would provide power to it. As a bonus the solar panels would provide shade to reduce AC use and the structure would be useable for running data lines between cities.

Re:Interesting

[Chris Burke]

Ha! Shows what you know [wordpress.com]. Bet you'll tell me next that trains can't travel through time!

World of tomorrow

[wjousts]

Regardless of the idea, I loved the 1950's style "World of Tomorow" style rendering [inhabitat.com] they did. Take that you kids and your fancy CAD packages and 3D modeling.

Re:Interesting

[An ominous Cow art]

Well, sir, there's nothing like a bona fide, electrified, warp-six, ion sail!

What'd I say?

Ion Sail!

What's it called?

Ion Sail!

That's right! Ion Sail!

Re:Interesting

[gentlemen_loser]

For 27 Billion I would rather have robot cars that drive themselves.

Great! For safety reasons, we'll just make them bigger, longer, sit multiple people, and ride on tracks. Will that work for you?

Re:Interesting

[Hatta]

Am I the only person who read the summary and instantly thought of the Simpsons episode "Marge vs. the Monorail" where a fast-talking salesman sells a malfunctioning solar-powered monorail to Springfield?

#27925567 [slashdot.org]
#27925609 [slashdot.org]
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#27925865 [slashdot.org]
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Apparently not.

Re:Interesting

[WillAffleckUW]

Define "warp".

Then show me a functional warp drive.

Then realize that sails "warp".

Maybe you should have learned how to sail as a kid, then you'd take a different tack.

DEAR SIRS AND MADAM

[EEBaum]

I AM CONTACTING WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF THE RAILS CONSTRUCTION PLANING CORPORATION SOLAR BULLET LLC. I HOPE THIS DAY FINDS YOU WELL. MY ASSOCIATES AND I ARE PREPARED TO START THE MOVING FORWARD ON CONSTRUCTIONS OF A 220MPH SOLAR-POWERED BULLET TRAIN TO MAJOR CITIES IN ARIZONA AND ALSO TO BE PASSING THROUGH THE SMALLER CITIES SUCH AS YOURS. THIS WILL BE A TWENTY-SEVEN BILLION US DOLLARS PROJECT ( $27 000 000 000 US ) WHICH WE ARE PREPARED TO MAKE LARGE INVESTMENTS IN AT NO COST TO YOUR TOWNSHIP. IN ORDER TO RELEASE FUNDS WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO A VERY SMALL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AT THE COST OF THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND US DOLLARS ( $35 000 US ) TO SECURE THE TWENTY-SEVEN BILLION. THIS STUDY COSTS WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF ARIZONA ON THE PATHS OF THE SOLAR-POWERED BULLET TRAIN AT THE COST OF FIVE-THOUSAND US DOLLARS ( $5 000 US ) PER CITY. PLEASE SEND IN HASTE THE FIVE-THOUSAND US DOLLARS TO OUR ASSOCIATES SO WE CAN BE MADE ABLE TO SECURE THE TWENTY-SEVEN BILLION US DOLLARS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! WARMEST REGARDS, BILL GAITHER, CO-PRESIDENT, SOLAR BULLET LLC RAYMOND WRIGHT, CO-PRESIDENT, SOLAR BULLET LLC

Re:Interesting

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

Maybe you should have learned how to sail as a kid, then you'd take a different tack.

Perhaps he just needed to buy a clew...

Re:Interesting

[rock_climbing_guy]

Suppose that they propose to do just what you propose.
Then, along comes Algore and company complaining that the project will result in global desalination... Of course, humanity's contribution to changes in the salination of the ocean will be very small, but that very small change will doom the earth to ecological disaster...

Re:Interesting

[Nethead]

Don't go overboard with the analogies. Try to keep an even keel here.

Re:Interesting

[hldn]

Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.

Re:Interesting

[Penguinoflight]

I'm sure this wouldn't stop him, but I'm pretty sure that taking water out of sea water would leave it more salinated.

Re:Interesting

[An ominous Cow art]

Don't go overboard with the analogies. Try to keep an even keel here.

Oar knot.