Link: California bullet train OKs European accords - San Francisco Business Times:
California bullet train OKs European accords
San Francisco Business Times - by Eric Young
California’s high-speed train officials have formalized new cooperative agreements with bullet-train operators overseas.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority this week OK’d agreements with bullet train firms in Italy and Germany. Those deals are similar to cooperative agreements the authority already has with Spain, France and Japan.
The foreign entities are offering free advice to California in hopes that their courtesy will give them an edge on future bids once the state starts laying track for the system.
Construction on the state’s high-seed rail system is still years away, but the advice that foreign operators are giving has helped Golden State officials with many technical questions as they plan for the 800 miles of track that may one day link the Bay Area with Southern California.
The interest from foreign bullet-train operators is financially driven. If California succeeds in building its bullet train by 2030 as forecast, it will be one of the largest transportation projects in United States history. It will need millions of dollars’ worth of rolling stock, track, technology systems and maintenance, all of which will be put out to bid. The state’s system will have a $1.1 billion operating surplus, if the project evolves according to estimates.
Email Eric Young at eyoung@bizjournals.com / (415) 288-4969.
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