Passenger Trains > California bullet train: Interest from private investor

http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_26176085/california-bullet-train-interest-from-private-investors-revives

"More significantly, private investors across the country and abroad are expressing new interest in bankrolling part of the $68 billion project."

"The lawsuits that have stymied the plan aren't yet resolved, but a budget agreement brokered by Gov. Jerry Brown that guarantees the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles rail line its first funding stream -- one that leading economists say could reach about three quarters of a billion dollars annually -- has emerged as a "game changer," high-speed rail experts say."

"But it's significant that Vinci Concessions, a French company that is considered a world leader in developing highly technical high-speed rail projects, is one of the nine companies that eagerly wrote to California about the bullet train last month. Several other firms that wrote letters are based in Spain, also home to a state-of-the-art system. Before now, there's been virtually no interest from private companies because there was no ongoing government commitment to fund the line."

"It's difficult to predict how much the new state funding will grow as California's cap-and-trade program kicks into gear, but some economists say the project will get another $4 billion through 2020, and the Legislative Analyst's Office forecasts it could climb close to $2 billion annually."

"Bankrolling"... does that mean they give California
money to build the system, and if the train turns out
unprofitable then too bad for them?

Writing a letter is a little different than plunking down some dough.

Tom Y

ZZZZZZZZ! I really doubt this is actually gonna pay off, it's been a joke since it was approved back in 08!

And anyone who believes the financial figures and revenue predictions coming out Sacramento - I have some nice ocean front property in Arizona you might be interested in.