“The Morning Briefing” is SmartPlanet’s daily roundup of must-reads from the web. This morning we’re reading about high-speed rail.
1.) Protests bring Italian high-speed rail mega-tunnel to its knees. High-speed rail has garnered a lot of praise recently. The U.S. has a new national high-speed network map. China has unveiled the world’s longest high-speed line. Japan is beginning construction of their long-anticipated Maglev train line. But not all the news surrounding high-speed rail is so rosy.
2.) India and France to strengthen cooperation in railway sector. India and France have singed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector.
3.) Is there hope for high-speed rail In Austin? A California transit company recently proposed a map of a national high speed rail network that places Austin as a major hub on the east/west southern rail lines. As KUT News reports, Austin would be mere hours away from major cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, not to mention Dallas and Houston.
4.) A U.S. high speed rail network shouldn’t just be a dream. I created this U.S. High Speed Rail Map as a composite of several proposed maps from 2009, when government agencies and advocacy groups were talking big about rebuilding America’s train system.
5.) High-speed rail buzz overpowers daily chug of freight trains. From the steam engine to visions of a national high-speed rail system, railroads have made their mark on American culture.
Photo credit: Flickr/Steve Langguth
Related:
- With new bullet-train line, China on track with big infrastructure goals
- World’s longest high-speed rail line opens in China
- New high-speed trains for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor
- Amtrak promises high-speed and better business to get back on track
- Japan unveils 310 mph floating train
