>>1231824You're misinformed so I'm going to revive a dead thread to correct it.
CAHSR is not building HSR from Bakersfield to Merced; the bare minimum HSR plan is for 4th&King-Bakersfield per the Initial Operating Segment, the IOS. This is what was sold/bid to DB who would operate full 220mph HSR trains on that route until the full build out from the new Transbay Terminal to Anahiem.
Until that is built, what will operate on the currently constructed tracks are the existing San Joaquins. CHSRA first made this announcement in their most recent business plan, and it's a practical move that will see 110-125mph services which is at least legally not High Speed Rail (only High-er Speed Rail, or HrSR). This will continue until the Pacheco Tunnels are built _and_ Caltrain sufficiently upgraded with passing tracks to allow for HSR trains.
So either HSR only happens between 4th&King-Bakersfield, or it doesn't happen at all. Either way the statement "Building HSR only from Bakersfield to Merced is useless." is incorrect.
