Fun fact - there is finally, after decades, rail/subway connections to Washington Dulles (IAD) as part of the Metro subway system. But then the legislators would need to travel with the common folk.
There IS a rail network from Dulles Airport to Washington D.C. but it takes close to 90 minutes. Ronald Regan Airport only exists so that members of congress can quickly catch flights to their fundraising destinations!
I can tell you why Dave. I am now 60 years old and have lived in DC all my life. There have been many times they have tried to close this airport yet the US Congress won't let them as it's just too convenient for them to use this airport.
@@EEVblog2 Sure - until it got too much with guess work and not understanding the area and the kind of infrastructure that exists. I know you don't like that explanation, but that's what it is. It's come up many many times over the years to reduce and after 9/11 even close DCA, but congress (who out-weighs the local DC government) blocks it every time. You may think that's too simple - I cannot help that.
They have a phrase for it - "Jet Fumes" - when legislators zoom off at the end of sessions to their home state. Train?! They'd need to share a carriage with Other People; eww.
@@EEVblog2 The thing is, the "fat cats" fly on commercial flights. (First class, obviously). They don't have private jets, and the government doesn't operate a civilian fleet or allow them to use military craft. Which means the airport has to *have* regular commercial flights for them to fly on. Which means operating it for the "fat cats" only is impossible.
I've flown into there many times and had the same thought. That airport is way too close to too many other things! It's very convenient -- small-town convenience, almost -- but it's almost downtown! Not to mention the Navy Yard and all the military bases. London closed the Croydon airport decades ago, and it's about 8 miles from city centre. This one is only 2 miles from the Capitol. I think it should be military-only.
Dave. Blancolirio (Juan Browne) is the only videos anybody needs to watch. The answer to why is Regan National a thing it’s because the extremely self important people of Washington did not want to drive out to Dulles International and fight the traffic anymore. So it’s the fancy pants Washington political people wanted it.
That's bullshit. The 25 million people using the airport every year are not all "fancy pants Washington political people". They're ordinary people. And you want to ban the peasants from using a convenient airport, and force them to use an airport in the middle of nowhere.
As tragic as this accident was, (and it is, I am in no way downplaying the horiffic loss of life) it is the very definition of statistically insignificant. Yes, the air corridors are crowded but it's nothing compared to New York City which has three international airports proximate to the CBD and a smattering of smaller airports too. The Reagan airport has been open since 1941 and was renamed in 1998. There hasn't been a fatal passenger airline crash in DC since 1982 (43 years) (excluding 2001, obviously). Assuming 25 million passengers a year, over a billion people have made it safely to their destination there. These air corridors are managed so well that for every fatality in that 43 year timespan, almost 18 million people made it to their destinations. We have to keep that in mind when assessing things like relevance of locality. The upside of this incident is that safety will only get better. I fully expect the approved routing for the helicopters to be adjusted to be outside the approach corridors, and/or they will change the way the aircraft are sequenced to avoid these sort of conflicts. The TL;DR is there is nothing wrong with having that airport there, far closer to the CBD than Dulles, and while unbelievably tragic for those on board and their families, the safety of air travel as a whole (and even just to this airport) makes removing it an unsupportable option.
So if you look at the DC rail map, there already is a line (the silver line) going from Dulles airport to downtown DC. But it has like 20 stops in between so it takes like 1.5 hrs +. And for the reasons you've mentioned, they haven't justified building a direct line yet. They've viewed it as a "would be nice to have". The recent tragedy might make them reconsider priorities.
The sliver line is very new. One of the major airports in the US had no metro connection until a few years ago. National has been a thing/planned before WWII - the world and the US Capital city has changed a lot since then. Every time it comes up in congress to limit flights and move everything to Dulles they block it.
I can verify, as an American that has studied urban planning, that actually sensible layout and coordination of transportation almost always means only highways and bridges. The chauffered limousine class and the transit dependant class have to be separated to prevent another revolution.
When it comes to things done for the public or common people here, it never meets time deadlines, the budget is constantly increasing and sometimes the projects are just left unfinished. But when it comes to things done privately or projects that only benefit the politicians and the people who work for the government, it somehow gets done quickly and with support from all parties.
GM, ford and stellantis thank you for your train idea, they are sending a black car to pick you up. it was nice knowing you. ;) it's not political pressure. the corporations run america (and australia)
It's absolutely about convenience. Having done the one day hell trip a free times it's not possible to do if you fly to Dulles. You fly in about 8 am, catch a cab or the train to the Pentagon, NGA, or any number of other locations. Then you attend your meeting, make your presentation, etc. And have time for a quick meal and maybe a beer before you go back to the airport and fly home in time for bed.
They don't care if it should be there or not. It's there and they like it, and they aren't spending money to change it. So what if some plebs die, as long as their flight goes smoothly?
Airport has been there since the 1940s, those infrastructure sites arent easy to move. Plus Marine one (im guessing) is bsed over the other side for security etc but when stuff hits the fan it can deploy to the white house while Air Force One positions to Reagan.
America would rather spend 10x as much on more highway lanes. It infuriates me as someone who greatly appreciates good rail transit. I was recently in DC - actually shared an uber with a Aussie from a hotel near Dulles to downtown - and took Metro almost everywhere the other days. The silver line is about 45 minutes to the Dulles. Your idea makes too much sense for most Americans who don't know anything but driving a car. We have too many people that cry about the tax burden of building something like that because they have absolutely no idea how much tax money goes into our roads plus the expense of owning and using an automobile on top of that. Most rail transit we do have is shoddy as best, and that's what people are used to. They've never been exposed to commuter rail done right and that makes me sad. I'm currently working on pushing the State of Indiana to invest more in our commuter rail, especially Indy to Chicago, but nobody wants to listen and would rather spend billions more adding another lane to an already congested highway that causes many traffic deaths each year.
It’s wouldn’t be just the cost of a dedicated train (and as others have pointed out we have a metro train and other public transportation that goes to Dulles) you also have to expand Dulles and/or BWI or build a new airport to absorb the displaced traffic of closing National. That’s not going to be cheap nor easy.
If the Tax payer will foot the bill with absolutely no say then American Politicians will do whatever makes them the most comfortable. Giant slush fund.
DC's per capita budget is already 30x more than most major US cities, because it's paid for by Americans who don't even live there! I guess a $10 billion underground rail to Dulles (IAD) is a just a drop in the bucket at this point. Okay, okay...but seriously, even light rail to Dulles (IAD) would be three or four times longer commute. The Capital Building to Reagan (DCA) is less than 10 minutes by Uber. It's also easier/faster to get through the smaller terminal at DCA than IAD. This simply boils down to the Elites wanting their convience.
I included a map of it in the video, it's got too many stops. I'm talking about a direct high speed rail link dedicated to the airport, and then re-routing some/all of the domestic traffic to Dulles.
Just like Sydney airport and what will happen around wsi the city grew around the airport and a tunnel is probably nit a viable option as large oarts of Washington is basically a swap
The first lady could finally build his hyperloop
LMFAO!!
Fun fact - there is finally, after decades, rail/subway connections to Washington Dulles (IAD) as part of the Metro subway system. But then the legislators would need to travel with the common folk.
There IS a rail network from Dulles Airport to Washington D.C. but it takes close to 90 minutes. Ronald Regan Airport only exists so that members of congress can quickly catch flights to their fundraising destinations!
I can tell you why Dave. I am now 60 years old and have lived in DC all my life. There have been many times they have tried to close this airport yet the US Congress won't let them as it's just too convenient for them to use this airport.
Yup! That is the REAL truth.
There is no military traffic in/out of DCA normally; the military/president/etc uses Andrews AFB, about 10km east of DCA.
Very simple - congressional members, staff can fly almost straight to where they work and not get stuck in traffic.
Did you even watch the video?
@@EEVblog2 Sure - until it got too much with guess work and not understanding the area and the kind of infrastructure that exists.
I know you don't like that explanation, but that's what it is. It's come up many many times over the years to reduce and after 9/11 even close DCA, but congress (who out-weighs the local DC government) blocks it every time. You may think that's too simple - I cannot help that.
They have a phrase for it - "Jet Fumes" - when legislators zoom off at the end of sessions to their home state.
Train?! They'd need to share a carriage with Other People; eww.
Liek I said, let the fat cats continue to use it so they don't have to share a train with the plebs.
@@EEVblog2 I heard the training was for "unexpected high speed" fat cat exits
@@EEVblog2 The thing is, the "fat cats" fly on commercial flights. (First class, obviously). They don't have private jets, and the government doesn't operate a civilian fleet or allow them to use military craft. Which means the airport has to *have* regular commercial flights for them to fly on. Which means operating it for the "fat cats" only is impossible.
I've flown into there many times and had the same thought. That airport is way too close to too many other things! It's very convenient -- small-town convenience, almost -- but it's almost downtown! Not to mention the Navy Yard and all the military bases. London closed the Croydon airport decades ago, and it's about 8 miles from city centre. This one is only 2 miles from the Capitol. I think it should be military-only.
Davey, the DC Metro already goes right to National, a 1 minute's walk into the airport. Yellow and Blue lines.
Dave. Blancolirio (Juan Browne) is the only videos anybody needs to watch. The answer to why is Regan National a thing it’s because the extremely self important people of Washington did not want to drive out to Dulles International and fight the traffic anymore. So it’s the fancy pants Washington political people wanted it.
Yes Juan Browne is always very good. Captain Steeeve (not a typo) also gave a very good breakdown of the incident.
That's exactly what I said in the video. No need for that to change, and you can still fix it.
That's bullshit. The 25 million people using the airport every year are not all "fancy pants Washington political people". They're ordinary people. And you want to ban the peasants from using a convenient airport, and force them to use an airport in the middle of nowhere.
As tragic as this accident was, (and it is, I am in no way downplaying the horiffic loss of life) it is the very definition of statistically insignificant. Yes, the air corridors are crowded but it's nothing compared to New York City which has three international airports proximate to the CBD and a smattering of smaller airports too.
The Reagan airport has been open since 1941 and was renamed in 1998. There hasn't been a fatal passenger airline crash in DC since 1982 (43 years) (excluding 2001, obviously). Assuming 25 million passengers a year, over a billion people have made it safely to their destination there. These air corridors are managed so well that for every fatality in that 43 year timespan, almost 18 million people made it to their destinations. We have to keep that in mind when assessing things like relevance of locality.
The upside of this incident is that safety will only get better. I fully expect the approved routing for the helicopters to be adjusted to be outside the approach corridors, and/or they will change the way the aircraft are sequenced to avoid these sort of conflicts.
The TL;DR is there is nothing wrong with having that airport there, far closer to the CBD than Dulles, and while unbelievably tragic for those on board and their families, the safety of air travel as a whole (and even just to this airport) makes removing it an unsupportable option.
So if you look at the DC rail map, there already is a line (the silver line) going from Dulles airport to downtown DC. But it has like 20 stops in between so it takes like 1.5 hrs +. And for the reasons you've mentioned, they haven't justified building a direct line yet. They've viewed it as a "would be nice to have". The recent tragedy might make them reconsider priorities.
The sliver line is very new. One of the major airports in the US had no metro connection until a few years ago. National has been a thing/planned before WWII - the world and the US Capital city has changed a lot since then. Every time it comes up in congress to limit flights and move everything to Dulles they block it.
I can verify, as an American that has studied urban planning, that actually sensible layout and coordination of transportation almost always means only highways and bridges.
The chauffered limousine class and the transit dependant class have to be separated to prevent another revolution.
Trusting the Americans to make a tunnel/subway of 35 kilometers..... It would take them decades.
Have you seen our high-speed rail in California? Neither have I and we have spent $billions. This would probably be a hundred year project.
@@thegreenpickel Yeah, DC is run by the same party as Cali
Not with the original stock of American. These days, yes
Yeah, I’d say decades is optimistic.
When it comes to things done for the public or common people here, it never meets time deadlines, the budget is constantly increasing and sometimes the projects are just left unfinished. But when it comes to things done privately or projects that only benefit the politicians and the people who work for the government, it somehow gets done quickly and with support from all parties.
you realise you're now on a list for loading that map and measuring distances? you're a brave man. ;)
GM, ford and stellantis thank you for your train idea, they are sending a black car to pick you up. it was nice knowing you. ;) it's not political pressure. the corporations run america (and australia)
It's absolutely about convenience. Having done the one day hell trip a free times it's not possible to do if you fly to Dulles. You fly in about 8 am, catch a cab or the train to the Pentagon, NGA, or any number of other locations. Then you attend your meeting, make your presentation, etc. And have time for a quick meal and maybe a beer before you go back to the airport and fly home in time for bed.
The Potomac is a drain for not only water but it is a great place for not hitting buildings. It gets very wide at the points of most likely conflicts.
They don't care if it should be there or not. It's there and they like it, and they aren't spending money to change it. So what if some plebs die, as long as their flight goes smoothly?
Make Steam Trains Great Again.
Take a look at American carparks - they sure love em! I reckon it's a similar thing. Drive or bust.
Airport has been there since the 1940s, those infrastructure sites arent easy to move. Plus Marine one (im guessing) is bsed over the other side for security etc but when stuff hits the fan it can deploy to the white house while Air Force One positions to Reagan.
America would rather spend 10x as much on more highway lanes. It infuriates me as someone who greatly appreciates good rail transit. I was recently in DC - actually shared an uber with a Aussie from a hotel near Dulles to downtown - and took Metro almost everywhere the other days. The silver line is about 45 minutes to the Dulles. Your idea makes too much sense for most Americans who don't know anything but driving a car. We have too many people that cry about the tax burden of building something like that because they have absolutely no idea how much tax money goes into our roads plus the expense of owning and using an automobile on top of that. Most rail transit we do have is shoddy as best, and that's what people are used to. They've never been exposed to commuter rail done right and that makes me sad. I'm currently working on pushing the State of Indiana to invest more in our commuter rail, especially Indy to Chicago, but nobody wants to listen and would rather spend billions more adding another lane to an already congested highway that causes many traffic deaths each year.
It’s wouldn’t be just the cost of a dedicated train (and as others have pointed out we have a metro train and other public transportation that goes to Dulles) you also have to expand Dulles and/or BWI or build a new airport to absorb the displaced traffic of closing National. That’s not going to be cheap nor easy.
Canberra's politicians need to consider what is being said here. The rail they are building here hasn't even been suggested it go to the airport.
If the Tax payer will foot the bill with absolutely no say then American Politicians will do whatever makes them the most comfortable. Giant slush fund.
I guess it's like most railway stations. It was built at the edge of the city but the city grew past it in the 20th century.
Towns in America are 6x6 miles (9.65x9.65 kilometres), this airport was never on the edge.
DC's per capita budget is already 30x more than most major US cities, because it's paid for by Americans who don't even live there! I guess a $10 billion underground rail to Dulles (IAD) is a just a drop in the bucket at this point.
Okay, okay...but seriously, even light rail to Dulles (IAD) would be three or four times longer commute. The Capital Building to Reagan (DCA) is less than 10 minutes by Uber. It's also easier/faster to get through the smaller terminal at DCA than IAD. This simply boils down to the Elites wanting their convience.
That's another reason I don't use airplanes....
There is an extensive Metro from both airports to all over the DC area
I included a map of it in the video, it's got too many stops. I'm talking about a direct high speed rail link dedicated to the airport, and then re-routing some/all of the domestic traffic to Dulles.
stay in ya lane Dave.... youre no aviator... sorry mate but this is a bit low of you to jump on this for the views...
how about that medivac jet nose diving not long ago
The US first high speed rail
Dave now doing airplanes ;)
Trains actually. I like trains.
@ doesn’t everyone?
Lol
Trains are awesome. You wouldn't be so keen if you lived in the UK. Our train networks are shit and expensive.
can’t musk build a hyperloop?
Sounds like a job for Boring Co.
SHOULD BE GOVERMENT OFFICIALS ONLY. ONLY
Dull-ess!
welcome to the watch list ;p
Just shocking the amount of UA-camrs sucking views from a tragic event. Forget about the soles lost, just get something profitable up.
$$$ not safety!!!
Just like Sydney airport and what will happen around wsi the city grew around the airport and a tunnel is probably nit a viable option as large oarts of Washington is basically a swap
I hear DOGE is investigating this. Hyperloop 2.0
Dave said HIGH speed!