Texas bullet train with Japan tech aims for revival with federal grant
January 6, 2024 - asia.nikkei.com -
The U.S. federal government has awarded a planning grant to a proposed high-speed rail line in Texas to be built with technology from Japan's shinkansen bullet trains, for a project that has faced delays and ballooning costs.
The proposed train service between Houston and Dallas could cover the 390 kilometers between the cities in 90 minutes. The main developer is private-sector company Texas Central, with Japanese companies such as Central Japan Railway and Hitachi providing technical support. Plans call for producing rolling stock and other technology developed for Japan's shinkansen bullet trains, adapted to Texas specifications.
Amtrak, the U.S. national passenger rail company, in December announced the $500,000 federal grant for the Texas corridor. This grant, meant to help determine the project's scope, schedule and cost estimates, could lead to larger public funding down the line if the work proceeds.
The fate of the project also will affect Japan's strategy to promote infrastructure exports. The Texas shinkansen would be the first major export of Japan's bullet train technology since the construction of Taiwan's high-speed rail system.