The Chinese want to sell us high-speed rail trains, designs that the Japanese claim were stolen from them. Indeed, we have our own advanced technology for high-speed rail, such a MagLev and other very cool technologies which might be employed. Currently, the Obama Administration has unspent Stimulus Monies slated for high-speed rail which the President proclaims untouchable from the Federal Budget cut talks in the on-going Debt Limit Ceiling Debates.
Still, let’s make no mistake bullet-trains are not rubber bullets, and when they derail bad things happen to anyone unfortunate to be on them, and despite what you might think high-speed rail is not without accidents. There have been several high-profile accidents in all the nations who have them, yes, including China, which is fairly new to the scene when it comes to this technology.
There was an interesting article recently in Google News on July 22, 2011 titled “33 dead after Chinese bullet trains collide,” by Dan Martin (AFP), which stated;
“Emergency workers battled on Sunday to rescue survivors from the mangled wreckage of two Chinese bullet trains involved in a high-speed collision which left 33 dead and nearly 200 injured. The first train had been halted by a lightning strike & was rear-ended by the second, causing two carriages to fall off a viaduct in a disaster likely to raise fresh questions over the safety of China’s rapid rail expansion.”
Well, that was the official news report anyway, of course it was retracted and then the event denied by the Chinese Government. Too bad for them there are pictures, video tapes, and all sorts of proof all over the media, Internet, and going viral around the world. Still, China controls their media and now it has gone dark on the entire story.
Okay so, what does this have to do with the US and our rail program you ask? Well, maybe high-speed rail in the age of terrorism is not such a hot idea, as our borders leak, we’ve been infiltrated, and these systems are not as safe as they’ve been purported. Further, we have an agreement with the Chinese which would allow them to bid on any of our large infrastructure projects, meaning they might be the ones selling us the high-speed locomotives, and building the passenger cars.
Yes, the same types of cars that went off the track, and caused dozens of people to die, while the government there claims it never happened. I think there is a trust factor there and it concerns me, how about you. Please consider all this and think on it.
