General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Time for High Speed Rail in the U.S.A. [View all]hunter
(38,303 posts)Those costs will be paid in the misery of future humans, most of them innocent people who did not burn huge amounts of fossil fuels flitting about on "business."
High speed rail is generally powered by electricity. There are many possible sources for low carbon electricity.
High speed rail technology exists today.
How much would an airline ticket cost if airlines weren't allowed to use fossil fuels?
The technology to power aircraft using synthetic carbon-neutral fuels is in it's infancy. ( I don't count biofuels, which are an abomination. ) Synthesizing aircraft fuels from atmospheric or oceanic carbon dioxide using nuclear power will be expensive.
One way or another, fossil fuels are going away. We can actively quit fossil fuels or we can passively watch our civilization die as earth's climate becomes less hospitable and the oceans rise.