Possible high-speed rail projects in the US

October 6th, 2009 High-speed rail projects to be chosen this winterWASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will begin divvying up $8 billion designated for high-speed and other passenger rail projects sometime this winter. The money is a fraction of the rail aid sought by states.

October 6th, 2009 $50B in high-speed rail applications submittedWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan. A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in a statement.

October 2nd, 2009 State asks feds for $4.7 billion for speedy trainsLOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger requested $4.7 billion in federal stimulus money Friday to help build an 800-mile bullet train system from San Diego to San Francisco.

September 11th, 2009 Official: Upgrading US rail service to come slowlyCHICAGO — The Obama administration's top railroad official says Americans shouldn't expect networks of super-fast trains after federal money already set aside for high-speed rail is spent. In prepared remarks at a Chicago rail conference Friday, Federal Railroad Administration head Joe Szabo says $8 billion in stimulus cash for high-speed trains is a down payment on a White House's commitment to modernize railways.

September 11th, 2009 Rail official: Upgraded service will come slowlyCHICAGO — The Obama administration's top railroad official says Americans shouldn't expect to see networks of souped-up, bullet-fast trains after the $8 billion set aside in the federal stimulus bill for high-speed rail is finally spent. But Federal Railroad Administration head Joseph Szabo said in prepared remarks for an industry conference Friday in Chicago that the White House is committed to upgrading train service, adding that the stimulus cash is just a down payment on what he dubbed "a rail renaissance." "Change will happen incrementally," he said.

September 10th, 2009 Ohio company eyes stimulus money for train factoryCOLUMBUS, Ohio — State transportation officials agreed Thursday to support a private company's bid to make passenger trains that would run on President Barack Obama's proposed high-speed rail network. U.S. Railcar LLC, which in June bought the assets of a shuttered Colorado railcar company, intends to build a $14 million factory in suburban Columbus that would make diesel-fueled passenger cars and employ about 160 people.

August 27th, 2009 Train strikes another in DC Metro rail yardWASHINGTON — Officials with Washington's Metro transit system say two employees have been injured after a rail car struck another train in the West Falls Church rail yard. Metro officials said Thursday that a train traveling at a low speed unintentionally hit a stationary train about 6 p.m.

August 26th, 2009 Britain considers new high-speed rail to ScotlandLONDON — Britain's rail operator says it has plans for a new high-speed rail line that could get travelers from London to Scotland in two hours. Network Rail said on Wednesday it has developed proposals for a 34 billion pound ($55 billion) new line through cities in western Britain, including Manchester and Liverpool.

July 17th, 2009 Panel give huge boost to high-speed rail projectsWASHINGTON — Funding for a signature high-speed initiative of President Barack Obama would get an enormous boost under a transportation spending bill approved Friday by a key House panel. Obama had asked for $1 billion for construction of a new high-speed rail system and other intercity rail lines, which would come on top of $8 billion provided in Obama's economic stimulus bill in February.

July 17th, 2009 Spending bill would help high-speed rail projectsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's high-speed rail initiative would get an enormous boost under a spending bill that a House committee approved Friday. Obama sought $1 billion for construction of a high-speed system and other intercity rail lines, which would come on top of $8 billion provided in the economic stimulus bill in February.

July 3rd, 2009 SoCal-to-Vegas rail route wins federal designationLAS VEGAS — The clogged tourist travel route between Southern California and Las Vegas has been designated a federal high-speed rail corridor, in a move that officials hope would signal increased cooperation between the regions on building speedier train travel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that the route is now considered part of the federally designated California high-speed rail corridor.

June 23rd, 2009 GAO: Gov't lacks strategic high-speed rail planWASHINGTON — The U.S. agency in charge of $8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail projects doesn't have an adequate plan to oversee the projects, and the system of super-fast trains ultimately will cost much more than even the $8 billion, a government watchdog official told Congress on Tuesday.

June 17th, 2009 Feds release details on high-speed rail fundsCHICAGO — The Obama administration has released criteria for $8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail that appear to give front-runner status to projects in the Midwest and California. The 68-page guidelines released Wednesday by the Federal Railroad Administration are the starting shot in a race between states to build new or revamped networks.

May 30th, 2009 US transport boss, Spanish premier discuss trainsMADRID — Spain's bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is spending to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.

March 31st, 2009 MADRID - Eight people were arrested in Spain for planning an attack on the high-speed train being built in the northern region, Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said. According to Rubalcaba, the detainees were members of a group that provided support to the Basque terrorist group (ETA), which has been fighting the government for a separate region.