Here's the "overseas" problem. The US has no track-record of high-speed rail construction. The Acela doesn't count because it's merely a fast train on some slow tracks; it's not a true high-speed rail system. We don't have HSR manufacturing capacity and we don't have HSR construction experience. (With the CHSRA, Bob Doty and Tony Daniels are from the UK, and Van Ark is from wherever he's from.)
Building a high-speed train is not the same thing as building a regular rail line for passengers and freight. (And we've almost forgotten how to do that.) A true HSR system is quite different. The Europeans and Asians have come by their extensive experience and know-how over a considerable period of time.
One interesting side story is that the Chinese invited French and German (Alstom; Siemens) to China to establish HSR capacity in joint ventures with the Chinese. Once the Chinese got the hang of it, they asked the "foreigners" to leave, but kept their technology. Smart, eh?
Anyhow, now the Chinese, determined to take over the entire world as a business enterprise, have their eyes on the California high-speed rail ambitions and lack of funding. They want to get their foot in the US door. It would certainly be a feather in the cap for the Chinese economy, sort of a loss-leader. How, on the other hand, that would help the US economy would have to be explained to me.
California Assemblyman Henry Perea says: " “From our perspective, California tax dollars are being spent on this project and we want to make sure we're putting Californians back to work.”
Work on what, a Chinese railroad? Manufactured in China? Designed and built by the Chinese? Will unemployed California construction coolies be drafted to do some of the pick and shovel work?
Not only has the Unites States been doing all its shopping in China, but now the Chinese will bring their super-market to US shores to make our shopping easier. Well, since we're buying with money borrowed from China, who cares? Right?
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Reported by: Tony Botti
Email: tbotti@cbsfresno.com
Published: 12:25 pm
Members of the China Railway Construction Corporation visited Fresno to take a tour of the area.
The group out of Beijing built the high speed rail system in China and is one of several bidders that want to bring their construction skills to the Golden State.
The meeting between Chinese delegation and Fresno officials took place at Precision Civil Engineering, one of the companies heavily invested in bringing the railway's maintenance yard to Fresno.
California Assemblyman, Henry T. Perea says, “Today we're giving them an overview of the project, timelines, the process, as well as what the Central Valley looks like.” Delegates got a good vantage point of that from inside the Fresno County Sheriff Department's Helicopter.
A spokesman for the Chinese says they liked what they saw. Jeffrey Chang says, “They understand Fresno is going to be the beginning or the end of the high speed rail project and the Chinese are very eager to get their foot hold here in North America.”
Delegates were also taken on a bus ride to tour potential manufacturing sites that are showcasing themselves as places to construct the materials that would be used on the project. Perea adds, “From our perspective, California tax dollars are being spent on this project and we want to make sure we're putting Californians back to work.”
The high speed rail authority should issue the contract to the winning bidder by the end of the year with the intention of breaking ground on the project during the start of 2012.
The visit is just the beginning of what will be a competitive bidding process. The Japanese have also visited California. The French, Germans and Spanish will likely be coming for a tour as well.
