Posted 24th February 2009 | 5 Comments
Obama plans £9 billion for US high-speed rail
Acela trains already operate at up to 150 mph (240 km/h) in Northeast USA
PRESIDENT Obama’s new economic recovery package for the United States includes and immediate $8 billion — over £5.5 billion — for high-speed passenger train services.
And in his next budget the President is expected to add $1 billion in each of the next five years, bringing the total for high-speed rail by 2013 to $13 billion (£9 billion).
Even before his election last November, Mr Obama had stressed the need to boost high-speed railways as part of his vision for rebuilding America.
Campaigning in Indiana, he talked of revitalising the Midwest by connecting cities with faster rail services to relieve congestion and improve energy conservation.
“The time is right now for us to start thinking about high-speed rail as an alternative to air transportation connecting all these cities,” he said. “And think about what a great project that would be in terms of rebuilding America.”
In October 2008, former President George W Bush signed a bill authorising up to $1.5 billion (£1 billion) for high-speed rail until 2013. But Mr Obama's total commitment in the same period will now amount more than eight times that.
US web site Politico says that big hurdles remain, however — with much depending on winning the co-operation of the Class 1 freight lines that control many of the tracks outside the Northeast, where Amtrak runs its Acela service.
But Politico says it is a landmark transportation investment and that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been given 60 days to come up with a strategic plan for the funds.
White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said the economic recovery legislation gives Secretary LaHood discretion to assign “priority to projects that support the development of intercity high-speed rail service.”
• At the time of last November’s presidential elections, voters in California voted in favour of a $10 billion (£6.9 billion) bond to make a start on a planned 800-mile high-speed rail network across the state. Now the White House has said the Californian project will qualify for some of President Obama’s $13 billion (£9 billion planned for the next five years.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
John Bowyer, North Battleford
As Robert Green has just nailed it on the head. That's what KLM/Air France are looking at. Reducing or possibly elliminating non profitable Flights from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam by investing in rail, by using the new AGV's from ALSTOM and upgrading the track from Amsterdam to Brussels to complete the High-Speed link.
It just makes no economic or environmental sence, to operate Flights on 'short hall' and domestic 'intermediate' segments.
Mark Williams, London, UK
Apart from the California HSR proposals, most of the 'high-speed rail' proposals in the US will upgrade 79mph services to 90 - 110mph. Hardly the same as high speed railways in Europe and Asia, or even the 125mph West Coast Main Line.
Still, it's a start.
Paul B, Coventry, UK
A lengthy protracted & complex planning process. An influencial road transport lobby, politicians with their own agendas and those in marginal seats along with the locals concerned about their scenic views presumably conspire to act against high-speed rail lines. If only this government would commit to at least one. The Eddington report of 2006 hardly helped matters, although the price of oil has risen considerably since its release.
We still haven't got the electrification of the Midland Main Line and the Great Western Main Line fully confirmed yet - let alone new high-speed lines.
Robert W Green, SHERBORNE, England
Why can`t the same commitment to High Speed services be undertaken in the UK?
Close down all the domestic aircraft and near European route franchises and make good the losses to the airlines by offering them partenerships with the rail companies. Or as Sir Richard Branson has done run their own services?
This is not beyond the remit of parliament to float such a scheme. The pressure to build new runways would cease to exist. The environment would be respected, jobs created and the future of the railways secured.
President Obama has my respects.
leslie burge, leicester, england
Great, Now let us see if we can get this sort thinking in this country.
It's so obvious if you want to get people out of their cars and reduce pollution to help the environment you must create a good fast transport system.
And on environmental grounds Rail comes out way in front.
Especially if you electrify and build new high speed lines.