VOA标准英语2010年-High Speed Trains in US to be Slower T

The fastest train in the US, known as Acela, reaches speeds of 241 kilometers per hour and only operates between Washington, New York and Boston

Europe and Asia have enjoyed high speed passenger trains for years, but the United States has lagged behind, holding on to older and slower trains, except for one route between Washington, New York and Boston.  But things are about to change.  President Obama announced plans to develop high-speed rail corridors in the United States, dedicating an initial $8 billion dollars to begin the work.  Producer Zulima Palacio looks into one of the largest US transportation projects in years.   Debora Tate narrates¹.

A high-speed French train can reach 574 kilometers per hour, but the record was set a Japanese train with a speed of 581 kilometers per hour. China is also catching² up.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the fastest train, known as Acela, reaches less than half those speeds (241 kilometers per hour) and only operates between Washington, New York and Boston.

Only half the trains in the U.S. can travel up to 170 kilometers per hour, but American trains are about to change, according to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

"The day will come when you can see travel between Los Angeles to San Francisco in under 3 hours going 220 miles per hour [354 kph]," said LaHood.

Construction of California's high-speed train could start in 2012. Experts say service may begin by 2020.

And conditions might be right for a high-speed American train.  President Obama recently announced that $8 billion in stimulus³ funds would go to developing high-speed rail corridors.

The president presented the project as a vehicle for job creation.

John Risch is with the United Transportation Union, the largest union representing railroad workers in the United States.

"In California alone it is estimated that 160,000 construction jobs could be created just to build those two high speed rail corridors," said Risch.

The project will develop 13 corridors between heavily populated areas, but only the ones in California and Florida will be truly high speed because, says Amtrak's Steve Kulm, those states will be the only ones to build tracks exclusively for high speed trains.

"There is a difference between Europe and Asia and high speed here in America.  In Europe and Asia they are dedicated⁴ tracks where only high-speed trains operate on.  Here in America our passenger trains share tracks with slower freight trains," explained Kulm.

And most of the federal funds will go for improving infrastructure⁵ and service on slower trains.  Kulm says Amtrak's Acela is already competing with the airlines.

"Before, between Washington and NY the passenger train only had about 20 percent of the market.  Today, Amtrak has 61 percent of the market compared to air flights.  Same thing happens in the north part of the corridor between NY and Boston," added Kulm

Environmental groups have applauded the project.  Howard Learner is executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which advocates for the development of eco businesses.

"At a per-passenger-mile basis, rail is about three times as efficient as travel by car, in terms of fuel efficiency, and six times as efficient as travel by air, so there are pretty substantial pollution reduction benefits both in terms of greenhouse gases and other pollutants," noted⁶ Learner.

John Risch of the United Transportation Union says there are more benefits.

"Passenger trains are the safest form of transportation available with the exception of the elevator. Trains are fuel efficient, they relieve traffic and airport congestion⁷ and they also reduce our dependence⁸ on foreign oil, making passenger trains the safer, cleaner, greener transportation option," said Risch.

Critics say $8 billion will start many small projects but won't finish them.  Supporters of the plan say that, nevertheless, it will lay the foundation for a new kind of mass transportation in the United States.
 

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

3 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

4 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

8 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。