Funding Keeps US High-Speed Dream Alive

A proposed high-speed rail line between Southern California and San Francisco was granted $15.5m for engineering and design work by the State, dispelling some of the doubts about its future.

The money was allocated by California's Transportation Commission but is a small fraction of the US$40bn the system costs to complete, writes the LA Times.

Despite the funding, the commission says there are hurdles ahead before the 700-mile, 220 mph high-speed line can go ahead.

"Us supporting that allocation doesn't mean it's going to get built," the state Commissioner Jim Earp told the newspaper.

The project was proposed over ten years ago but has not yet been finalised.

By staff writer