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Andy Kunz of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association discusses whether the transportation system can flourish in America.
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-- -- high speed train accident in China it happened on Saturday 38 people killed more news on high speed rail in California.
That what you're seeing now video from China that was the accident on Saturday 38 killed now in California.
There are so many complaints about how high speed rail that officials are trying to save it.
By making it slow speed rail President Obama is putting tens of billions of taxpayer dollars and too high speed rail project easy was -- Joining us now is Andy -- from the high speed rail association.
-- you've been on the show -- -- we appreciate you coming back again.
It seems to me that the key players.
Though walking away from this thing there in retreat I put it to you that high speed rail despite all with taxpayer money.
It's dead in America.
-- -- -- I would say absolutely not it's alive it's it's certainly struggling I'll agree with you there but.
This is an important project for the country really have to not really have to -- I know you behind it I know you think we have to build it but you -- see it looked were in retreat in California that was one of the biggest high speed rail projects in full scale retreat.
People object to the construction process they object to the cost.
It's going nowhere.
Well I mean this is these are big projects is no question that there are every big road project controversy -- that's just the way there are other huge infrastructure projects they spanned.
Hundreds of miles they will touch people's properties so -- it's definitely going to be controversial.
There's no question about that.
-- beyond the controversy you just talked about lets -- talk about dollars and cents Spain has the biggest high Spiro networking Europe.
They've got 20% unemployment China is to -- to 275.
Billion dollar deficit.
Because no one takes those trains.
How do you really continue to push for this from an economic point of view -- all we're gonna have a these gigantic white elephant that nobody uses.
Well actually that's not true China's trains are full many of them are sold out and these these are.
They're safe systems there and operation all over the world they've moved billions and millions of people and I mean I gotta tell you we've done our research we found only two high speed rail lines that may repeat may -- be profitable one line in France and the bullet train just one line of it in Japan.
And that's not even taken into consideration the subsidies which those two -- lines essentially received from governments it's not profitable and it.
All transportation is subsidized roads are not profitable aviation is not profitable so I mean these are systems that make an economy follow.
-- they are.
You know we're required required and necessary to -- for an economy operate how how do you respond to the customers on California who say you know we're just gonna take flight.
From Southern California to northern California instead of taking a train because number one it's quicker because are not going to be high speed anymore number two it's cheaper.
While there are going to be high speed I don't know what to come I was -- -- as -- more that's an 800 miles system.
It's not bill yet so obviously they're taking flights today about when there are strains -- as in other parts of the world.
They will take the drain instead of the plane how much is it going to be spent -- -- 800 miles in California.
The projected cost is around 45 billion dollar.
45 billion dollars that -- a projection made today.
Which caliber and it doesn't have which the federal government doesn't have and it may well be a whole lot more than that you think it's still gonna go forward you could do really.
Hans -- it'll be down in phases.
Is of course is not going to be 45 billion dollar -- -- be segments built in and you know probably eight different phases and that's how.
They're built around the world -- don't build all 800 miles it wants Italy that actually right now building -- many miles up there and new system in Italy.
We thank you for being I'll probably get a part of the show I completely disagree with you -- -- is a boondoggle -- is gonna get built but.
Look accident on the show we appreciate it it -- Iraq's young men we appreciate -- -- --
