Letters: Elon Musk’s speedy solution

Re “L.A. to S.F. in 30 minutes?,” Aug. 13

Where’s Gov. Moonbeam when you need some vision?

Our current ill-planned high-speed rail project needs to be aborted. It was doomed from Day 1 because of its cosmically stupid routing, the result of various municipalities squabbling over it like ducks chasing scraps of bread. It’d be better for the state to fund a prototype of billionaire Elon Musk’s visionary, pneumatic tube-like transportation system to see what results.

And next time maybe someone will show some brains on route selection. Las Vegas should be a hub, with the first leg connecting it with L.A. The passengers are there, along with possible investment by casinos. Once the first leg is paid for, build that second line to San Francisco.

Maybe we don’t need a direct link to San Francisco; instead, two 20-minute trips, with a stop for lunch in Vegas, would be just as good or better.

Linda Kranen

Carlsbad

In the 1950s, I loved watching my granny, a J.C. Penney saleswoman, put a customer’s payment in a pneumatic tube so that it could be whisked to the upstairs office and sent back with the correct change.

Since then I’ve always thought that a system like this could transport people if scaled up; so leave it to Musk, the online payment, space transport and electric car entrepreneur.

Not long ago China announced it would build a high-speed rail system. Presto! It’s done. For years various interests have been sparring over a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco — and what’s wrong with that?

Here’s what’s wrong: Where are the passengers? Anyone trying to get from San Diego to Los Angeles by car or train at 35 miles per hour has the answer.

Roger Newell

San Diego

Forget L.A. to San Francisco in 30 minutes. How about Orange County, the High Desert or just about anywhere in Southern California to downtown L.A. in 10 minutes?

That is where the money is.

Scott Bryant

Apple Valley

Musk’s Hyperloop may be technically feasible (if not politically or economically), but here’s why it may not work: the passenger experience.

Look at the design drawings. Riders wedged into a narrow tube in a semi-reclining position, basically locked in, with their heads almost touching the ceiling. It would be like riding in an MRI scanner.

No one with the slightest touch of claustrophobia would go near it. It would have to be scaled up in size, which would increase the cost greatly.

And by the way, where’s the restroom?

Mark Leinwand

Agoura Hills

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