by kaitoku
Some news from Texas, somewhat overshadowed by California and Florida in the HSR plans department, but apparently seen by JR Central as an attractive market for their expertise and N700i trainsets. The chairman of JR Central Railway, outspoken (and conservative) Mr. Yoshiyuki Kasai, presented his firm's proposal for a Houston-Dallas HSR link to Houston business leaders, and which is intended to be built with largely private funds:
http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-23-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... rain-plan/
article with powerpoint of the actual presentation:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... o-dall.php
This is an interesting move by JR Central, who first focused on Florida, but appear to be moving into a market that has so far seen little interest from other HSR makers- no doubt a result of Texas' lukewarm attitude so far to HSR. But JR Central seems to be making a smart move by appealing to business interests and private funding in the current "teapartyesque" political climate. Also, there was a recent announcement that rolling stock maker Nippon Sharyo, which is a subsidiary of JR Central, will build a factory in Rochelle Illinois, ostensibly to fullfill an order for 160 double deck EMUs for Chicago's Metra, but possibly also for any future orders of their N700i high speed trainset.
Anyway, will be interesting to see where this goes...
http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-23-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... rain-plan/
article with powerpoint of the actual presentation:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... o-dall.php
This is an interesting move by JR Central, who first focused on Florida, but appear to be moving into a market that has so far seen little interest from other HSR makers- no doubt a result of Texas' lukewarm attitude so far to HSR. But JR Central seems to be making a smart move by appealing to business interests and private funding in the current "teapartyesque" political climate. Also, there was a recent announcement that rolling stock maker Nippon Sharyo, which is a subsidiary of JR Central, will build a factory in Rochelle Illinois, ostensibly to fullfill an order for 160 double deck EMUs for Chicago's Metra, but possibly also for any future orders of their N700i high speed trainset.
Anyway, will be interesting to see where this goes...