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California breaks ground on bullet train project 2:27
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Work began on California's controversial bullet train project, which is estimated to cost $US68 billion. Courtesy: Fox News
- News Corp Australia
- 07 Jan 2015
- News/World
The country’s first high-speed train is dividing the country. Source: Facebook
IT SOUNDED almost too good to be true, so could it be?
California’s high-speed rail project was meant to slash the extremely popular journey between Los Angeles to San Francisco in half — to less than three hours. The $84 billion high-speed rail system, the first in the nation to get underway, is the most expensive public works project in US history.
But Fox News reports that the project is facing many challenges. The trip has blown out to an estimated four hours as the cost overruns, not to mention the lawsuits, public opposition and a projected completion date 13 years behind schedule that is angering many in the community.
Facing criticism from Republican cost-cutters in Congress and Central Valley farmers who are suing to keep the rails off their fields, there is also worry that it will become an expensive failure.
@FoxNews What a waste of money...
— Mike Kielbasa (@mikekielbasa1) January 7, 2015 Over the next 1000 days, California is estimated to spend roughly $4 million a day on the project whose budget has blown out since being first sold to the public.
Kris Vosburgh, executive director of US taxpayer watchdog group Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association told Fox News that money is being spent on something that will serve very few people. The cost of a ticket is just one factor that may discourage patronage — it has skyrocketed from $60 to $100.
“The public has turned sour on this plan but the governor, to paraphrase Admiral Farragut, has taken a position of ‘damn the people, full speed ahead’,” Vosburgh said.
@RJGatorEsq ..TOTAL lunacy...THIS is why so many are abandoning California...taking their money and heading up here to Pacific NW
— Black_Raven135 (@RosaleeAdams) January 7, 2015 @KPCC single stupidest plan we've ever had.
— Justin Case (@jbonegetit) January 6, 2015 @TIME Boy I can't wait for the construction to be halted 5% of the way in, and have 68b wasted when they could have used it elsewhere
— Mike Zlasher Chan (@Zlasher) January 6, 2015 So what do we know about the project so far?
Straight into the heart of San Francisco in under three hours. Source: Facebook
Q: How fast will it be compared to other high-speed trains?
A: About average, with top speeds of about 320 kilometres per hour. That’s similar to trains in Europe, but pokey compared to China’s CRH380A engine, which at 486 kilometres per hour is the world’s fastest way to travel on land. A Japanese maglev train in development has topped 498 kilometres per hour in tests. The fastest train in the U.S. is Amtrak’s Acela Express, which reaches 169 kilometres per hour on a short stretch between Baltimore and Wilmington, Delaware, but slows elsewhere to make stops between New York and Washington.
Governor Jerry Brown speaks to the crowd at the high-speed rail groundbreaking event. Source: AP
Q: How much will it cost to ride?
A: Current estimates are between $100 and $110 one-way from San Francisco to Los Angeles, similar to a discount airline fare and about twice what petrol would cost to drive there in a typical car.
Q: How does the trip compare to planes and cars?
A: If this train manages to deliver passengers on time, it could beat a direct flight between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which takes an hour and 20 minutes but involves airport travel hassles. Driving the 644 kilometres journey takes more than six hours even with little traffic.
Q: How much will it cost to build?
A: The current price tag is $84 billion. California’s High-Speed Rail Authority says that’s cheaper than building dozens of new airport runways and highways to accommodate a state population expected to hit 46 million by 2035.
Construction has begun on the country’s biggest public works project. Source: Facebook
Q: Who will pay to build it?
A: Voters approved nearly $12 billion in bonds for rail construction and improvements to existing lines. The Obama administration added $4 billion in federal financing. Authorities hope private development around stations will help pay for the rest.
Q: Where will it go?
A: The first stretch linking the Central Valley to the Burbank airport should open in seven years. Then it will reach north to San Jose, and south to Palmdale and the San Fernando Valley. By 2029 — 14 years from now — a full 837 kilometres should link San Francisco’s downtown Transbay Terminal to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.
Protesters gathered at the ground breaking event with many believing it will be an expensive failure. Source: AP
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