<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> The largest infrastructure project in the US is gaining traction, with the California High Speed Rail Authority and the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently signing a memorandum of understanding to enhance the rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose in the US, preparing it for a future high speed rail service. </span> <p>“The MOU helps implement the $1.45bn Caltrain Modernization Program,” the authority on said March 18.</p><p>“With this investment, Caltrain will upgrade existing rail lines and improve train performance through electrification of the Caltrain corridor, install an advanced signal systems and purchase new electrified rail vehicles.”</p><p>High speed authority board members were sure to emphasise the importance of this latest development.</p><p>“This MOU represents a new partnership reflecting a vision for high-speed rail integrated with a regional and state wide rail system that is critical to the future of the state of California,” board member Jim Hartnett said.</p><p>“High-speed rail is designed to bring the regions of California together while providing all important benefits at the local level. The partnership between Caltrain and high-speed rail will improve rail traffic for one of the most important economic and innovative regions in our country.”</p><p>The high-speed rail network has been designed to connect two very large population centres, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and to meet the needs of a fast-growing state – California is predicted to have an additional 20 million residents by 2050, the equivalent of the current population of New York.</p><p>The 800 miles of dedicated high-speed track will initially run from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim via the Central Valley, and later, to Sacramento and San Diego, with electric-powered high-speed trains travelling at speeds of up to 220 mph.</p>
