1. Biden smashed $16.4 billion to realize the "high-speed rail dream", and lost $100 million a day, so it is better to ask China for help.
Biden has always been known as a railway "fanatic", as early as during the election campaign, he canvassed on the train and repeatedly praised China's high-speed rail development achievements. In order to realize his "high-speed rail dream", Biden announced by 2024 that he will spend $16.4 billion to improve the Northeast Corridor rail line, the busiest in the United States. However, such a decision has been questioned, and some even believe that the United States might as well ask China to help build it. This makes people wonder whether Biden's renovation plan can be implemented smoothly, andAmerican RailroadDevelopment challenges.
The railroad Biden is renovating between Boston and Washington and is one of the busiest in the United States, capable of carrying 800,000 passengers a day. However, due to the aging of the equipment, railway delays occur from time to time. The railway connects several important business centers and densely populated areas, and disruptions will have a serious impact on business, tourism, and other services. According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, every day the line closes costs $100 million in economic damage. Although this statement may be exaggerated, it also reflects the importance of this railway.
However, why didn't Biden act sooner?In fact, the United States faces a number of challenges. First, large infrastructure projects often require bipartisan support to be passed. In addition,American RailroadThe lag in technology is also a problem. Compared with the development of high-speed rail technology in China and other countries, the development of high-speed rail in the United States is relatively lagging behind, and only 600 kilometers of high-speed rail lines can run at a speed of more than 160 kilometers per hour. This makes the United States relatively backward in terms of rail infrastructure and cannot compete with other countries.
In the face of these challenges, why not ask China for help?Just as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway jointly built by China and Indonesia was put into operation in September this year, the world has witnessed China's speed and the strength of China's manufacturing. The railway overcame multiple difficulties such as tropical rainforest climate, poor geology and special geotechnical conditions, and demonstrated the high level of Chinese technology in the construction process. It is worth mentioning that Indonesia's ** Jokowi was also amazed by its comfort and smoothness after riding. Although Biden mentions supporting local production in the infrastructure bill, given the relative lack of technology and experience in high-speed rail construction in the United States, it may be wiser to turn to China for help.
However, even with China's assistance, it will not be easy for the United States to regain the glory of the railroads. Today, the perception of the United States has changed, and it is almost impossible for the United States to go back to the era of high-speed railroad development in the past. At the same time, modern railway technology has changed dramatically, and high-speed rail has become mainstream. The transportation culture of the United States leaned towards automobiles and aviation, while the development of railroads was limited. Taken together, these factors make it risky for the United States to invest in railroads, and it may be safer to leave it to China.
In short, Biden's decision to spend $16.4 billion to renovate the railroad has sparked a lot of discussion and raised people's mindsAmerican RailroadDevelopmental thinking. Despite the economic and employment benefits that can be brought by rehabilitating rail infrastructure, it is not easy to implement and faces multiple political, technical and cultural challenges. Perhaps, in today's era of high-speed rail, the United States needs to learn from the successful experience of China and other countries to accelerate the pace of rail development and turn to China for help. In any case, the future development of railroads will face significant challenges and opportunities for the United States and other countries.