Hagan studies railway in Spain
Pushing for system in OhioBy RON SELAK JR. Tribune Chronicle
State Rep. Robert Hagan's desire to see high-speed passenger rail in Trumbull and Mahoning counties has taken the lawmaker to the other side of the world and back.
Hagan was among a group of Midwest lawmakers and other members of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, or MIPRC, who over four days got a close look at Spain's high-speed rail system - from the making of locomotives to traveling, by rail, to some of the nation's biggest cities.
It was a chance, Hagan said, to look at part of Europe's rapidly growing train system and see what parts could be applied locally.
He also spent some time in Italy.
''We are so far behind the rest of the world,'' Hagan, D-Youngstown, said. ''The European nations have committed to moving people in the most economical, environmentally sound way, and we're not quite there yet.''
Efforts are being made to bring high-speed rail service to Ohio, Trumbull and Mahoning counties and western Pennsylvania.
U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, along with their Keystone State counterparts, have asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to designate the Cleveland-Pittsburgh corridor as a high-speed rail corridor.
Additionally, the Midwest Regional Rail System, developing high-speed rail service in the midwestern United States, includes Ohio, where there is an effort to develop passenger rail service that would first connect Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
The Three C corridor and the Keystone corridor in Pennsylvania already have the high-speed designation. The designation for the Pittsburgh-Cleveland connection would link the Three C and Keystone corridors.
The September trip to Spain included traveling by rail from Madrid to Barcelona to Zaragosa, where Hagan said he saw how the system was married to commerce with the construction of indoor malls at the train stations.
''They have hundreds of trains running in and out, you have hundreds of built-in customers,'' Hagan said.
Hagan said he also learned that as the system has developed, groups that are expected to ride have changed. People needing transportation for three- to five-hour trips are using the system, where Hagan said, it was originally thought those people would fly.
What's happening in Spain showed the opportunity available for Ohio and Ohioans.
''I'm depressed about how slow we are, but enthused by the fact there is knowledge, technology and opportunities to share and move people at a high rate of speed,'' Hagan said.
The trip was funded by Spain's trade commission, said commissioner director Laura Kliewer.
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Lotterydreamer
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11-24-09 10:43 AM
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Hagan is dead spot on this issue. Wouldn't this fall under infrastructure? This area needs to be brought into the modern age instead of one dinosaur idea after another.
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jonathon
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11-23-09 5:40 PM
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If a rail system is such a desirable and efficient mode of transportation I wonder why the trains in Warren no longer run. Remember the station on South Street? Must not of been much of a demand to keep it.What's so different today other than the fact a lot of people are going to line their pockets at tax payers expense.Hey, Hagan did you bring photos back from your VACATION?
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zipcityboy
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11-23-09 1:11 PM
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High speed rail service is long overdue and will be a tremendous boon to our local/national economy. Actually, so would passenger rail service at any speed. It is high time America went forward by recreating what we had over a century ago: a modern passenger rail service connecting all cities.
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Handala
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11-23-09 10:16 AM
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He ALSO spent some time in Italy...how generous of Spain. "The incident you were referring to was Madrid not Barcelona."Oops, guess Barcelona was a waste of trip then!? I think you mean Warren Buffet's purchase...One T in Warren's name.Being a fan of Jimmy not Warren I hope WE did'nt confuse anyone else!?Hmm?
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tudiante
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11-23-09 9:57 AM
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"The trip was funded by Spain's trade commission, said commissioner director Laura Kliewer." ^ well there's you answer about taxpayer money... it's easy to bemoan something when you don't read the article itself. "I think they really wanted too see what security measures we must put into place too prevent a Barcelona incident.? Hmm? " ^ the incident you are referring to was in Madrid, not Barcelona. i was glad to read about warren buffett's purchase last week. i think a rail system would appeal to a younger demographic that is deserting places like youngstown and cleveland for better-connected cities like portland, oregon. even consider efforts made to better connect vastly sprawled phoenix, arizona: its new light rail system is a huge success. granted, it's a light rail system -- not a high speed corridor, but it shows that there are a lot more people willing to use these services than some of you would like to believe.
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Handala
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11-23-09 9:36 AM
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BTW...I'm sure it is all coincidental!?Hmm?
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Handala
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11-23-09 9:34 AM
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Warren Buffett recently purchased the largest rail system in the Nation an now local politicians with their vast knowledge of lionel trains goes on a fact finding mission in Europe.I sure hope they have $timulating new$ for Mr Buffett!And who knows, perhaps Greenville Steel Car/Pullman/GATX will all resurrect!?Hmm?
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pahootaman
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11-23-09 8:46 AM
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How DARE somebody go see how somebody else does something. Welp, I guess I'm anti train now. Time to get the ole' teabag birgade to march up to the Capitol steps and tell those Washington fat cats, that along with keeping their socialist mits off my medicare, to quit looking for ways to ease transportation woes with high speed rail. Seriously, you guys have a problem with this? There's SOOOOOO much else to get worked up about in American Govt., instead your biatching and moaning about a guy that went overseas to see how something works so he can bring it home? It's lose - lose with some of you. I do find your armchair political punditry funny sometimes though.
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baldeagle
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11-23-09 8:37 AM
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forget
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baldeagle
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11-23-09 8:27 AM
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Where are all these people going on high speed rail we don't have any jobs to go to,nice trip don't foreget to vote.
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Handala
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11-23-09 8:22 AM
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We put men on the moon 40 years ago but have too consult the Spaniards on how to operate a choo-choo!? I think they really wanted too see what security measures we must put into place too prevent a Barcelona incident.? Hmm?
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bruISback
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11-23-09 8:02 AM
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lets do like they do on the discovery channel. lol spankey
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DrSpankit
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11-23-09 6:55 AM
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did anyone hear about this trip prior to today?did I miss the articles leading up to this high dollar 'discovery channel' level educational retreat on the rails?
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reader
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11-23-09 6:42 AM
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First, the tales surrounding the need for a purchase of property for Warren's school board and now this! The train system in Europe has been around for decades. I don't think a trip to Spain would give our legislator any more information than what he/they could find in well-documented sources on the Internet or other electronic sources. I understand the need for a rail system in Ohio. However, he/they could have had a meeting or two with management of the remaining train systems in the United States. How could we expand on those systems? Then after he/they determine how to expand existing systems in Ohio and surrounding areas, he/they need to reimburse the taxpayers in the state of Ohio for their trip to Spain and Italy.
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DrSpankit
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11-23-09 5:59 AM
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...Sangria for all my friends.....
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FlyingWedge
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11-23-09 5:57 AM
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High speed rail could be an economic engine as well as a savior in the Valley. I don't often agree with Hagan,but he's spot on this time.
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OldManGrump2
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11-23-09 5:48 AM
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Nice vacation in Spain and Italy on the taxpayers dollar Mr. Hagan. The Spain Trade Commission funding is just anopther word for taxpayer's money. With the state economy in ruins, it's seems wrong for this vacation trip for Hagan and his friends. Everyone knows we'll never see a high speed rail service in the valley.
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