Posted on 05/21/2015 9:36:55 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Chinese state firms are poised to be strong contenders in the race to make high-speed trains that will sprint between Los Angeles and San Francisco, part of a $68 billion project to bring the service to the United States for the first time.
While "bullet train" manufacturers from Germany, Japan, South Korea, and France are expected to be among those jockeying for the estimated $1 billion train contract, China’s ability to offer low prices and hefty financing appear to make it the one to beat, say lobbyists and industry insiders.
Lacking experience in the technology, California must turn to foreign firms to build the trains – albeit domestically and with American workers - setting off a geopolitical race to grab a foothold in the nascent U.S. high-speed rail industry.
Germany's Siemens is expanding its rail factory in Sacramento to incorporate a “high-speed lot.” Japan has voiced its interest, boasting a record of no fatal accidents in over 50 years operating high-speed trains. France’s Alstom, which produces rail cars in upstate New York, is also a potential contender.
(Excerpt) Read more at ca.news.yahoo.com ...
This would be a WILLIE GREEN HAPPY CHOO CHOO thread!
1. Passenger rail in the USA ALWAYS loses money. It will never pay for itself
2. Just one good earthquake and the thing is ruined.
3. $68 BILLION!!!!
Only a liberal could think this was in any way a good idea.
Yeah...I know...it’s all about ‘feelings’ within the dictates of liberal dogma, ain’t it?
I thought DAMNTRAK had it all figgered out.
Well, they built the first one in the 1860s—why not the new one? We could import a few million Chinese to build it and they could stay to become good Democrats— Can’t be much worse than Mexican/Centeral Americans? And much , much better than Arab Islamic people who want to kill us.
California is in China, now?
Finaly. The megalopolis of Bakersfield can get commuters from Stockton in record time.
Folks aught to consider the “run off the rails” track record of Chinese trains.
WIll they supply the workers too? Probably.
For $68B they could build enough desalinization plants to supply all of the water for half of the homes in the state without touching any rivers, lake, or wells, leaving that water for agriculture and industry. But hey it’s California you don’t really think they would do the smart thing.
Took my grandson on the train from San Diego to Los Angeles about ten years ago just so that he would know what it was like to ride on a train. Even then there were few people riding and we enjoyed the experience. Did a U.S. company build this train?
Jerry Brown is an open enemy of suburbia. He wants all the lawns to die, houses abandoned, and the people to move to high density housing. Like Europe.
But wait, even in Europe they have suburbs. There are many jobs that require a car to get to. Plus the high speed rail is so expensive it is not a general form of transport. It is much cheaper to rent a car or fly, than take the high speed rail.
This project will end up a curiosity. A white elephant. The only value is the rights of way purchased that will be used for other purposes. But the talk is of using existing rights of ways in LA and SF. So there’s no relief for the 405 freeway or the commute from Tracy to Silicon Valley.
Makes me think of that oldie, but goodie song from my youth:
Oakland bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. Oakland bridge is falling down................
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