> > 2.There will be a boom in passenger rail service in the United States.
>
> It depends.
> Does the US Government want to spend a lot of money in improving/upgrading the existing lines and in creating new ones?
>
> > Monorails and maglev trains will only see limited use.
>
> I agree.
>
> > Trolly cars, with only minor differences from the ones that ran in the 1940, will make a comeback in a number of major cities.
>
> It depends.
> Trolleybuses (or trackless trolleys) are most cost-effective in cities up to 50.000 people or in cities that haven't a rail system. Streetcar systems, updated to the new technology known as LRV (Light Rail Vehicles) are the best choice for lines that require at least 15.000 passengers/hour, or 25.000 if the system is totally new - laying down rails, repaving roads and maintaining the infrastructures for such a system need a lot of fundings or income from passenger transit.
> As far as technology is concerned, streetcars and trolleybuses have been really improved, in safety, automation, comfort and convenience; the only thing they share with pre-war ones are the rails and the overhead wirings.
>
> Since early 90s many European cities (at least one in every state) restored their trolleybus/streetcar systems, improving the existing and creating a lot of new routes.
>
> You're going to buy (as Seattle and Boston did since early 90s) a lot of consultancy and technology from Italy/France and Japan.
>
> AP.


Wow! I'm impressed! Where did you find all that information? I've been a borderline streetcar buff ever since the first time I rode one at about age 6. I've read several articles, mostly in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, about streetcars but they usually don't include that kind of stats.
Howard