Ron Boardman, 88, of Lake Bluff has spent a great part of his life working with railroads. He currently volunteers with the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit that advocates for high-speed trains.
Q: How old were you the first time you rode a train?
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A: I rode my first locomotive when I was 12. I was put in the cab of the train.
Q: Where have you worked?
A: I worked for the Chicago North Shore Milwaukee – which is now out of business – and for the Chicago Northwestern, which is now part of Canadian Pacific. I’m retired as a director from the National Passenger Railroad Association.
Q: Where would you like to bring high-speed rail?
A: Throughout the United States, especially the Midwest corridors: Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St Paul, Kalamazoo. Those cities are prime targets for high-speed rail.
Q: What actions do you currently take to encourage high-speed rail?
A: I attend meetings and try to push congressmen to vote for pro-rail projects.
Q: How fast would such trains travel?
A: We’re trying to get it started between Chicago and St. Louis. We’re aiming for 220 mph. We’re trying to get running times down so they are competitive with air [planes].
Q: How fast do trains typically run now?
A: There are places where they run 90 mph. Other places they run faster than that.
Q: What are the challenges of getting high-speed trains built in the U.S.?
A: In one word: funding. Congress has seen fit to put a lot of money into the highway system. The air control system is a subsidy for the airlines. The competition is subsidized so it’s hard for them to be profitable.
Q: What are the advantages of having high-speed trains?
A: More people could use transportation that are near their homes and that are more efficient in their running times.
—Mark Lawton, Pioneer Press
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
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