US takes Spain as example
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 01, 2009 00:00
MADRID - Spain's bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is injecting to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.
Ray LaHood said the $8 billion allocated for high-speed railways in the U.S. will spur growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
U.S. President Barack Obama has cited Spain, France and Japan as countries with systems worth emulating. The Spanish network is likely to interest the U.S. government because its specially designed, electrified tracks - first devised for the French TGV system - are not as expensive to lay and run as some German or Japanese alternatives.
And Spanish state-of-the-art tunneling technology has proved successful in boring efficiently through mountain ranges to reach the cities of Valladolid and Malaga.
LaHood met with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to discuss how investing in such a train system could stimulate job creation in the U.S.
"I traveled on a train at close to 215 miles per hour, the fastest I've ever ridden on a high-speed train," LaHood said. He said he had enjoyed a conversation and beverage aboard and found the experience very civilized. "Our leaders have made the decision that America will have high speed rail," LaHood said.
Of $787 billion approved in Obama's stimulus bill, $48 billion is destined to improving overall transport infrastructure.
U.S. President Barack Obama has cited Spain, France and Japan as countries with systems worth emulating. The Spanish network is likely to interest the U.S. government because its specially designed, electrified tracks - first devised for the French TGV system - are not as expensive to lay and run as some German or Japanese alternatives.
And Spanish state-of-the-art tunneling technology has proved successful in boring efficiently through mountain ranges to reach the cities of Valladolid and Malaga.
LaHood met with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to discuss how investing in such a train system could stimulate job creation in the U.S.
"I traveled on a train at close to 215 miles per hour, the fastest I've ever ridden on a high-speed train," LaHood said. He said he had enjoyed a conversation and beverage aboard and found the experience very civilized. "Our leaders have made the decision that America will have high speed rail," LaHood said.
Of $787 billion approved in Obama's stimulus bill, $48 billion is destined to improving overall transport infrastructure.