WHILE the debate continues in Britain about whether to build high-speed rail lines beyond the 68-mile long Channel Tunnel rail link, the people of California have voted in favour of a high-speed network that could extend to 800 miles.

Voters were asked to decide whether to allocate $10 billion (£6.2 bn) to start to build the system, and approved it by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Quentin Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said the new rail network — with trains operating at up to 350 km/h, 220 mph — would deliver “a high-speed train system that will cost two to three times less than  expanding freeways and airports to accommodate millions of new Californians by 2030.  
 
“A reliable 220-mile-per-hour electric high-speed train system will reduce our
dependence on foreign oil by more than 12 million barrels per year and reduce
greenhouse gases that cause global warming by 12.7 billion pounds annually. In short, we seek to reduce traffic congestion, protect our environment and give energy and life to our economy to the tune of 450,000 new jobs.”

He added: “History will remember [the night of 4/5 November], when Californians demanded a new transportation system for California's 21st century travel needs.

“Thanks to tonight’s vote, a state-of-the- art, new transportation choice will link every major city in the state and move people and products like never before.  The citizens of California have put the 21st century golden spike in the ground with a clear affirmation of high-speed trains.

The first line will link Anaheim, Los Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco. Planners eventually want to include Sacramento, San Diego and Oakland.  The total cost of the whole network has been estimated at $40 billion (£24.6 bn).

California’s high-speed rail system has been in the planning stages since 1996.