msm (01/29/83)
The following article is from the Associated Press and was published in the
Livermore Tri-Valley Herald on 28 January '83. [Reproduced without permission]
AMTRAK OK's BULLET TRAIN
[Associated Press]
Amtrak has agreed to let promoters of the high-speed bullet train share its
monopoly on passenger rail service from Los Angeles to San Diego.
However, a map of the bullet train's 132-mile "preferred route" leaves two
gaps that trouble some local officials.
Bill Huston, Tustin city manager, termed the map "as clear as mud," and Orange
County Supervisor Thomas Riley, head of that county's transportation
commission, said promoters of the $3 billion project must give more detailed
information to win local acceptance.
As proposed, the bullet train would use a combination of Santa Fe Railroad and
Southern Pacific railroad track as it zips at 160 mph between downtown Los
Angeles, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Ana and San Diego.
The map, however, leaves portions of the route near Anaheim and Mission Viejo
unspecified. It is those gray areas that concern Huston and Riley.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, engineers pronounced as economically feasible plans
for the high-speed train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, even at a price
tag of $1.8 billion.
Representatives of the Michigan-based Budd Co. said the project could be
operational by 1991, bringing 3.7 million visitors annually from Southern
California to Las Vegas and sending 250,000 new visitors to Los Angeles
yearly.
The 75-minute trip, running from Ontario to downtown Las Vegas, would sweep
along a desert route following Interstate 15 at speeds up to 250 mph.
The figures were outlined in a feasibility study presented to a meeting of Las
Vegas business and civic leaders and mayors from several Southern California
cities.
The study is the end result of a $270,000 grant funded by city, county, state
and federal sources.
A representative of Japan Air Lines said his company was interested in the
project and was "willing to put in risk capital" to see it funded.
"We know it works," Clarence L. James Jr. said of the exotic magnetic
levitation system proposed for the 230-mile route. "We are interested in
bringing that knowledge over here."
James is general counsel for the Keefe Co., a Washington-based firm
representing the airline.
"It is feasible, and we're going to make it happen," said Las Vegas Mayor Bill
Briare following a 90-minute presentation by the Budd Officials.
The proposed Los Angeles to San Diego route appeared to pose problems for
Fullerton's bus-train depot, which is undergoing a $5.6 million refurbishing.
Fullerton currently is an Amtrak stop, but the bullet train would bypass the
station.
In Sacramento, Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black said Wednesday that the Amtrak
board of directors unanimously approved an agreement Jan. 19 to let the bullet
train use its route.
In return, Amtrak will receive 2,500 shares of preferred stock in American
High Speed Rail Corp. -- promoter of the bullet train -- a seat on the board
of directors and an escalating share of the comapny's profits.
American High Speed plans to run about 50 round-trip trains a day from Los
Angeles to San Diego when it begins operation in 1988.
[end]
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Michael S. Maiten
Silicon Gulch, California
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