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Monday, September 19 2011 Issue 24 I N D E P E N D E N T
Vol. 118 S T U D E N T
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Forum explores rail system developments High-speed rails offer cleaner, cheaper transportation; require large investment 100 mph — the Northeast Corridor, which stretches from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The Acela’s maximum speed is 150 mph, but it only reaches that speed during two stretches of track. The average speed of America’s “high-speed” service, Clarke said, is The topic at UT’s Science Forum last Friday centered on the prospect of high-speed a mere 70 mph. “Basically, what America did with the Acela is take a beautiful French design and rail systems in America. The discussion was led by Dr. David Clarke, director of UT’s Center for screw it up in order to meet American standards,” Clarke said. “That seems to be our Transportation Research. Clarke, a self-proclaimed “trainiac,” has been all over the regular these days.” Besides the Northeast Corridor and Keystone Corridor, the only electrified rail corworld to research the rail infrastructures of different countries. ridors in America, the top speed for Amtrak’s diesel-powered trains is 90 mph. Most of Clarke explained the history, specifications and advantages of high-speed rail systhese trains are long-distance, and only one train per day serves most areas along these tems. He said that a high-speed railroad, according to the International Union of rail lines. These facts, along with Railways, must have a regular operating Amtrak’s constant battle with freight speed of at least 250 kph on new tracks; companies over track right-of-way, must have no grade crossings, giving the are the reasons why rail has less than train an exclusive right-of-way; and must 1 percent of intercity travelers in the have passenger service only, with multiple United States, Clarke said. electrified tracks, extremely tight design “Our freight railroads are the best standards and stations with established in the world, and the companies public transportation connections. want them to stay that way,” Clarke High-speed trains, Clarke said, are gensaid. “Therefore, they fight tooth erally comfortable, reliable and safe, with and nail with Amtrak over track no recorded fatalities until an accident in usage. Since they own the tracks, China during the summer of 2011 claimed they don’t want to be liable for any one person’s life. He said the trains are a accidents Amtrak has or perform any much cheaper alternative to flying for pasextra maintenance due to wear sengers, especially for trips with durations caused by the faster Amtrak trains.” of two to three hours. He also said that Clarke said President Obama has electrified trains leave a tiny fraction of been the first pro-rail president in the carbon footprint left by airplanes and the past century. The Obama admincars. In these regards, America is lagging istration has allocated $8 billion far behind countries such as France, China toward high-speed rail, but this figand Germany, Clarke said. • Photo courtesy of Babskwal ure is half of what China spent back Due to the notion that China has a very similar economy and geographic area to Passengers board the TGV V150, the world speed record-holding high-speed rail train, in in 2003; Congress has been relucthe United States, Clarke went in-depth Paris, France on Monday, June 18, 2007. High-speed rails similar to the systems in other tant to increase any allocation of about China’s rail infrastructure in order countries have been proposed for use in the U.S. due to a number of advantages over typ- funds. Clarke said that California has proposed its own high-speed to compare to what the U.S. has the capa- ical rail systems or individual modes of transportation. rail plan, funded by $12 billion in bility of doing. Clarke said China has been federal funds and $9 billion in state funds. He said while this is a good sign, America willing to allocate funds toward high-speed rail because the travelers’ demand for it is present. China began by spending $14 billion in 2003, and this number has increased to needs to take an incremental focus to building a high-speed rail system if it ever plans a $95 billion figure in 2010. Its rail stations, he said, are very modern and clean, unlike on building one. “America’s immediate focus should be to identify, acquire and protect right-of-way the stations in the United States. “If I lived in China, I would most likely take the train every day,” Clarke said. for a future high-speed rail system,” Clarke said. “We should build high-speed rail sys“Impeccable service, modern equipment, very clean and up-to-date stations unlike the tems incrementally as demand and finances permit, and invest money as demand increases.” grimy facilities in America we know as train stations. It beats the heck out of flying.” “I’ve been on a high-speed train in France,” Coley Fryar, a sophomore in pharmacy, Clarke said that Amtrak, the only intercity rail passenger service in America, has attempted to enter the realm of high-speed rail in the past decade with its French- said. “Very, very fast. You can’t tell how fast it is because it’s very quiet and you can’t designed Acela trains, but the Acela service is not high-speed by international stan- feel the momentum. If we had them in America, people would use them more often dards. These trains run in the only rail corridor in America that allows train speeds over because they’d be more accessible and easier to use.”
Andrew Lindemann Staff Writer
Students take advantage of TRECS Chelsea Jensen Staff Writer Students returned to UT nearly one month ago, and the influx of students has caused an increase in numbers at the TRECS, the Tennessee Recreational Center for Students, on Volunteer Boulevard. With over 100 multi-operational machines, a weight room, 11 workout studios, three racquetball courts, four full-size basketball courts, more than 16 workout classes, an Olympic track, outdoors center, golf simulator, air hockey table and it’s very own Smoothie King, it’s understandable why students spend their time in the three-level facility. Not to mention membership is free with a student ID. But are the gung-ho students as dedicated to the gym as they seem, and will they maintain their healthy routines? Nick Angel, TRECS building manager and a senior studying sports management, said the numbers will drop after the first few weeks. “At the beginning of the semester, kids are wanting to come and to see what all is offered, and then it slacks off I guess as the year goes on because people get bogged down with classes,” Angel said. Angel said each season is relatively consistent. Students visit on-campus workout facilities less as the fall semester progresses, but they return mainly after New Year’s and before spring break. Tee Ezell, fitness program director at the University of Tennessee, said it’s mainly because students are “trying to keep off the holiday and winter pounds we all tend to gain from the holiday eating.” So, how can students work toward making their gym routines more than something seasonal? For Monique Simpson, TRECS fitness floor supervisor and a junior in psychology, the best way to keep up her workout routine Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon is to set aside 40 minutes each day for cardioEmily Thompson, junior in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, meas- vascular exercise and weightlifting. ures concentrations in a lab in the Walters Life Sciences Building on Friday, Sept. “I try to fit it in where I can — a little work16.
out here, a little workout there,” Simpson said. “But it’s possible if you make time for it.” Olivia Crowe, an undecided sophomore, said the best solution is to follow through with plans. “Don’t procrastinate, just do it,” Crowe said. Christin Maxwell, a freshman in political science and philosophy, said it’s a matter of knowing about the facilities. “I think a lot of people don’t even know about it when they first get here,” Maxwell said. But working out at the TRECS is not the only way to maintain a consistent and healthy routine. Ezell said it’s the student’s responsibility to utilize the resources available. “Aside from what is offered at the (TRECS), students have another great resource, our campus,” she said. “There are challenging hills, steps and flats on campus that make for excellent cardio and toning workouts.” A bulletin board in the TRECS displaying information about avoiding the “Freshman 15” suggested incorporating 30 minutes of exercise into one’s daily schedule by powerwalking across campus, taking the stairs or riding a bicycle to class. It also recommended getting at least 8 hours of sleep and watching what one eats by avoiding sodas and greasy foods. Ironically, the elliptical machines on the third level of the gym look right across the room to a large poster advertising Papa John’s Pizza. But the pizza can wait for the late-night studying. Instead, students can enjoy one of the 93 smoothies and a variety of protein bars offered at the TRECS’ Smoothie King while they work out. Or, if a student is across campus, one can briskly walk the distance and enjoy a smoothie as a reward without even bringing a gym bag. For more information about the TRECS and other on-campus recreational facilities, visit http://recsports.utk.edu.