U.S. transportation secretary eager to test ride Japan's bullet train

Tuesday 05th May, 06:01 PM JST

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Sarge at 12:11 AM JST - 6th May

If private companies ( like JR ) want to build a bullet train system in the U.S., great, but please leave the government out of it.
Ninjazilla at 12:32 AM JST - 6th May

Thats true, private companies in the US have proven to be very efficient, like the Automakers for example.
OssanAmerica at 12:54 AM JST - 6th May

Amtrak has already had a high speed train called the Acela running on their highly travelled Northeast corridor Washington DC -NY-Boston. But they still haven't been able to get the train to run the whole way.
imacat at 12:57 AM JST - 6th May

I for one would love to see a high-speed national network of trains criss-crossing the USA (and I'm not even an American). It would put the fun and romance back into travel around the states. Imagine those fantastic trains sweeping majestically through all America's amazing landscapes. Who gives a damn who it's funded by... just do it.
J_rock at 01:24 AM JST - 6th May

JR isn't entirely "private". JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu and JR Freight are owned by Japan Railway Construction, transport and technology Agency which is affiliated with the (gasp) government. It's definitely time for high speed rail in the US. There are several corridors absolutely screaming for it. The Acela trains are actually capable of going much faster than they currently do, but the tracks they run on just won't allow for it yet.
ca1ic0cat at 02:43 AM JST - 6th May

Half the problem in getting a high speed link in the US, especially on the East Coast, is getting a right of way that is separate from the low speed freight. I can hear the fights over property rights and noise now. It would make the Narita runway expansion protests look like a quiet afternoon.
Sarge at 11:32 AM JST - 6th May

"Amtrak has already had a high speed train called the Acela"

I've ridden the Acela. My bicycle's faster. OK, I'm exaggerating a bit there, but the Acela can't be compared to the shinkansen trains in Japan.
Altria at 11:43 AM JST - 6th May

I've been on the Shinkansen - make me U.S. transportation secretary!

I also have experience riding cars, planes, motorbikes, bicycles, tricycles, horses, skateboards, boats and yo mama.

Why does this clown get to go on a junket to Japan to ride the Shinkansen? Is he also going to write a report on the big plane he rode to get there?
Kwaabish at 03:30 PM JST - 6th May

I guess the clown wants to get wined and dined (and taken for a ride) on taxpayers'(both US and Japan's) expense...
kwatt at 10:14 PM JST - 6th May

Now America dreams about future bullet train. It reminds me of American TV program in 1979 "Supertrain" that I really enjoyed every week.
elbudamexicano at 07:16 AM JST - 7th May

The USA needs high speed trains, Japan, many Eurpean countries, even Taiwan, China and South Korea have these trains! Why are we talking about this need for trains in 2009? Maybe it has to do with all the big, greedy oil companies in the USA who have paid lobbiests to kill any plans to ever construct these kind of trains. Just look at the history of Texas, every time they have tried to make high speed trains there, shot dead in the Austin state capital! Good luck high speed trains in the USA!
Weasel at 09:37 AM JST - 7th May

It reminds me of American TV program in 1979 "Supertrain" that I really enjoyed every week.

You've got to be the most gutsiest person in the world to have admitted to that.
sydenham at 03:11 PM JST - 7th May

As motytrah said, regional networks would be the only way to go. Suburban over-expansion has made a nationwide system in the US unprofitable. A country like Japan with high population density, is ideal.
rogerbentham at 04:24 PM JST - 8th May

no self-serving politician would sign on a made in japan rail in the us. no way.
rogerbentham at 04:27 PM JST - 8th May

lahood just wants to ride da bullet for thrills on government time.