Florida’s Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown highlighted today the importance of the Spanish model for high speed trains, toward implanting it in the United States and replacing the antiquated national railway network.
Corrine asked how is it possible that the United States does not have high speed trains such as those that link Madrid and Barcelona, and other Spanish cities.
“We need to mobilize the Federal Government, the state of Florida and local governments so that, for example, two tourism destinations as important in the world as Orlando and Miami can be connected via high speed trains”, declared the Congresswoman in a conference where Spanish companies displayed the advantages of this type of communication.
The Spanish companies participating displayed their expertise to US companies, in this sector where Spain has shown an evolution and growth rate that is “faster than any other European country. In fact on December 18th the Madrid-Valencia route will be inaugurated, and with it Spain will become the top European country in terms of high speed train kilometers: close to 2,500 kilometers”, affirmed Mario Buisán, Trade Commissioner for the Spain Commercial Office in Miami.
The conference “Fast Track to Sustainable Growth: Florida-Spain Conference on High Speed Rail” is the first in a series that will take place this week in various US cities, with the sponsorship of the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX).
Florida plans to inaugurate its first high speed train between Tampa and Orlando in 2015 covering 135 kilometers. The total cost of the project, which will later connect to Miami, is estimated at $2.7 billion, according to data about the program from Florida High Speed Rail. Last January, President Obama announced he would give the state $1.025 billion in order to begin construction on the Tampa-Orlando section, which will have five stations. The economic stimulus plan of the United States Government includes “a budget of $8 billion to develop 11 high speed rail corridors”.
Buisán said that the Spanish companies intending to participate in the bidding, which will begin in about two months, have a complete offer: track construction, the trains, track signaling equipment and the experience they possess.
“What distinguishes the Spanish offer from that of other countries is the experience we have in the construction and management of this type of infrastructure. Spain, together with France, were the first European countries to put in place an infrastructure such as this”, he added.
“The companies visiting the United States have, on average, a decade of experience in high speed trains and have been involved in projects in other countries such as France, and currently are bidding on high-profile projects in Saudi Arabia”, he continued.
The mission is composed of the companies Apia XXI, Albatros, Arcelormittal España, Ardanuy Ingenieria, Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas, Inabensa Abengoa, Indra, Nem Solutions, Revenga, Sener Ingeniería y Sistemas, Telvent, Thales Transport Signalling Security Solutions, Dimetronic, MGN, Inocsa and Semi.
Also participating are representatives from the Spanish Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Equipment and Services for the Railway Industry (MAFEX), the Spanish National Association of Construction Companies (SEOPAN) and the industry group for engineering companies, TECNIBERIA.
The business delegation will also travel to Chicago and Los Angeles after visiting Orlando. Source: MAFEX, EFE