Distance does not matter - sustained speed matters. Higher sustained speeds = shorter trip times. Go look at a terrain map. Pacheco Pass --------------------

Distance does not matter - sustained speed matters. Higher sustained speeds = shorter trip times. Go look at a terrain map. Pacheco Pass ---------------------- From Gilroy to San Jose the train can go no faster than ~125, ~150mph because it has to do a fairly sharp turn. Anyone come from San Francisco is doing the first ~100 miles at speeds no greater than ~125mph. Altamont Pass -------------------- Trains leaving San Francisco and San Jose join up in Fremont. Once they leave Fremont, the right of way opens up. The trains can then hit 220 mph until Los Angeles. This saves in total time ~ 30 minutes.