US eyes Japan's train know-how
By Jay Alabaster |
May 12, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took a ride yesterday on the fastest passenger train in the world, a Japanese maglev, as part of Tokyo's sales pitch for billions of dollars in high-speed train contracts from the United States.
Washington is attempting to drive development of a new train network that will eventually span the country, but the US has almost no domestic experience or technology. Japan, with one of the most advanced train systems in the world, is an eager seller, though it has had scant success with exports so far.
LaHood, who in the past few months has also ridden high-speed trains in Spain and France, said he was impressed with Japanese technology but that was only part of the equation. He said potential manufacturers need to "come to America, find facilities to build this equipment in America, and hire American workers."
"It's getting America into the high-speed rail business, but it's also putting Americans to work building the infrastructure," he said.
Japan's high-speed rail services are among the most advanced in the world, with hundreds of trains running each day and an average annual delay that is typically less than a minute. No passengers have died from a collision or derailment in nearly a half century of service. The only derailment was during a major earthquake in 2004.
LaHood rode a small test train yesterday that hit speeds of 502 kilometers per hour during a 27-minute run.
Washington is attempting to drive development of a new train network that will eventually span the country, but the US has almost no domestic experience or technology. Japan, with one of the most advanced train systems in the world, is an eager seller, though it has had scant success with exports so far.
LaHood, who in the past few months has also ridden high-speed trains in Spain and France, said he was impressed with Japanese technology but that was only part of the equation. He said potential manufacturers need to "come to America, find facilities to build this equipment in America, and hire American workers."
"It's getting America into the high-speed rail business, but it's also putting Americans to work building the infrastructure," he said.
Japan's high-speed rail services are among the most advanced in the world, with hundreds of trains running each day and an average annual delay that is typically less than a minute. No passengers have died from a collision or derailment in nearly a half century of service. The only derailment was during a major earthquake in 2004.
LaHood rode a small test train yesterday that hit speeds of 502 kilometers per hour during a 27-minute run.
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