Article: France's SNCF hopes to run high speed raihttps://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/20032009/24/f-afp-france-s-sncf-hopes-run-high-speed-rail.html
March 20, 2009
MERRILLVILLE, Indiana (AFP) - The United States is ready for a trulyhigh-speed rail system and France's national railway SNCF would be"very interested" in operating a network, a senior executive saidThursday.
"We strongly believe that in this country, in some ofthe corridors, the system should logically be profitable," SNCFInternational chairman Jean-Pierre Loubinoux said in an interview onthe sidelines of a rail conference in Indiana.
While detailedmarket analysis still needs to be undertaken, Loubinoux said the Frenchexperience has shown that high-speed rail operates most effectivelybetween large cities that are around 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers (600 to930 miles) apart.
These conditions exist in the east coast, California, the midwest, Texas and Florida.
"You could have more than just a corridor. You could have a system," he told AFP.
"If the possibility (of operating a network) is open we certainly would consider it with great interest."
TheUS government has allocated eight billion dollars for high-speed railas part of a massive economic stimulus package and a number of statesare competing for the money.
The bulk of the states are expectedto propose incremental improvements to their rail systems by improvingexisting tracks in order to increase speeds from a maximum of 79 milesper hour to 110 or 150 miles per hour (127 kilometers per hour to 177or 241 kilometers per hour.)
Loubinoux said the nation would bebetter off investing in a new, dedicated system with speeds of up to217 miles (350 kilometers) per hour.
There is "a lot of businesspotential to be considered," Loubinoux said, adding that the structureof the bidding process remains to be determined.
"Will it be justa build and transfer of technology, will it be maintenance andoperation... commercial contracts, operating possibilities," he said.
"Definitely in some cases, especially in high-speed corridors... we could envisage participating in some operation systems."
TheSNCF, which developed France's famed TGV series of high-speed trains inthe 1970s, plans to submit proposals to the US railway authority, whichexpressed interest last fall in improving service in 11 rail corridors.
"What we can bring is our experience. It's been more than 25 years since we developed high-speed rail services."
Loubinouxis hopeful that the United States, which has long lagged in developingits passenger rail system, now has the political will to launch themassive investment needed.
"The economic and financial crisisworldwide seems to be a sort of catalyst to big, nationwideinfrastructure programs," he added.