apan Railway to Push Bullet Train Tech for U.S.

[Niels Bohr 72]

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo Jun. 18--WASHINGTON -- The chairman of Central Japan Railway Co. will meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Washington on June 29 in a bid to promote the company's bullet train technology for a U.S.high-speed rail initiative, according to sources close to Japan-U.S. relations.

Yoshiyuki Kasai will also deliver a speech during his Washington visit to draw U.S. attention to Japan's long track record of shinkansen bullet train technology in connection with the initiative announced by President Barack Obama, they said.

The president has come up with the initiative to build a national network of high-speed rail corridors to help prevent global warming, increase energy efficiency and create jobs.

A large economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year calls for an $8 billion competitive grant program for the initiative.

In addition, the federal government plans to invest a total of $5 billion over the coming five years in the initiative.

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced guidelines for states and regions to apply for federal funds for high-speed rail projects. The Federal Railroad Administration will screen applications and select the first federal fund recipients by mid-September.

The Japanese and U.S. governments have discussed bilateral cooperation for the U.S. initiative since Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso proposed such cooperation at talks with Obama in Washington in February. Transportation Secretary LaHood has voiced his hope to ride a Japanese bullet train.

As well as Japan, France and Spain have been pushing their respective high-speed rail technology for the U.S. initiative.