CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL MAP PLUS

They’re hoping to reach an agreement when the Legislature returns for session in January. Gavin Newsom included it in his state budget, but negotiations between his administration and the Legislature have stalled. The California High-Speed Rail Authority said it needs that money to continue construction beyond next summer. That’s a conversation Democrats in the state Assembly want to have amid negotiations over whether to release about $4 billion in bond money for the project. SACRAMENTO - A new and fundamental debate has emerged in the battle over California’s high-speed rail project that could again significantly downgrade the troubled effort: Should the trains even be high speed when the system launches? With the transition to a less carbon-intense economy already underway, it’s clear that the future of transport will increasingly be on rail for longer journeys, and it is these systems’ steel-built arteries that are helping make this greener future a reality.By KATHLEEN RONAYNE | The Associated Press

CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL MAP PLUS

The 320kph plus speeds that high-speed trains hit, put incredible demands on their system’s steel rails, with the highest quality manufacturing required in order to ensure they can endure the resulting wear, impact and fatigue resistance.Īdvanced manufacturing has also increased the length of individual rail sections, allowing for faster journeys that are smoother and quieter, for passengers as well as the environments through which the trains travel. At the heart of this superior passenger experience are the high-strength, ultra-long steel rails that make high-speed train travel possible. High-speed rail offers the highest levels of commuter comfort and safety, combined with lowest environmental impact for long distance inter-city journeys. The Authority estimates that the greenhouse gas emission savings represented by a 1,440km round trip from San Francisco to the LA basin is equivalent to 90 litres of petrol consumed or 88kg of coal burned.Īdvanced high-strength steel rails are needed to endure the mechanical stress of high-speed rail The green benefits of the system will also help the state tackle climate change, by reducing traffic and airport congestion, and dependence on fossil fuels for California’s major population centres. The impacts are also expected to be environmental as well as economic, with the Authority committed to net-zero direct greenhouse gas emissions in construction and a build process that minimises impacts on the natural and built environment. California High-Speed Rail is a significant step in the right direction.” “We see the future of transportation as clean, green, and better designed for passengers and communities. “High-speed rail is going to improve the transportation landscape in California, with the potential to impact transportation on a national level,” said Brian Norris, Stantec’s transportation business line leader. Stantec, the engineering firm responsible for delivering the project, are hopeful that it will be seen as an example for how other states can improve their infrastructure. “We see the future of transportation as clean, green, and better designed for passengers and communities.” – Brian Norris, Stantec transportation business line leader

More than half the project funds are being deployed in disadvantaged communities, ensuring the economic impacts are felt where they are needed the most. The California High-Speed Rail Authority estimates that more than 730 small businesses are engaged in the project, creating nearly 9,000 jobs. It’s not just commuters who will be feeling the benefit of the new high-speed line, the economic and environmental benefits are expected to be felt across the state. Phase one prioritises the 830km span from Merced, San Francisco, to Anaheim in LA, with the current 10-hour trip expected to be brought down to just three hours. The high-speed line is the standard bearer for a state-wide modernisation plan that will invest billions in local and regional rail.ĭue to the size of the project, and the diverse environmental conditions across the state, the work has been broken into 10 separate sections, with each undergoing its own environmental impact assessment. Initially running from San Francisco to LA, the system will eventually expand out to Sacramento and San Diego, with 24 stations spanning more than 1,200km.

California high speed rail map