California’s long-awaited high-speed train will be solar-powered. It’s been a rocky road so far for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s promising new project.
This high-speed train connecting 1287.5 kilometers of the state was called “a bullet train that is both one of the most expensive per mile and one of the slowest in the world” by Elon Musk.
It was to be the start of a revolutionary new transport system connecting the west coast of the US up to Vancouver in Canada. It would also go east to Las Vegas before eventually threading its way across the entire continent.
When approved in 2008, the project’s estimated price tag was USD 33 billion (€30 billion), and its scheduled opening date was 2020. In 2023, the system is nowhere near finished and has racked up USD 19.8 billion (approximately €18 billion) so far, with a total estimated bill of USD 128 billion (€116 billion).
How much power does the training need?
To power this behemoth of a train, 44 megawatts of energy, theoretically generated by 552 acres of solar panels will be required. Onboard batteries will aim to store 62-megawatt hours of power.
Much of this energy will be used simply to propel the train, which is estimated to reach top speeds of approximately 354 km/h. However, a large proportion will also be required to help the vehicle manage the intense Californian climate and to keep moving if local utilities fail.
The high-speed service will connect vital parts of the state
Through 10 phases of implementation, the system will finally connect passengers from San Diego up to Sacramento. It will travel via Los Angeles, Central Valley, Fresno, and San Jose.
Currently, 191.5 kilometers of track are under construction.
Phase one focuses on the 836.8 kilometers between Merced in San Francisco and Anaheim in Los Angeles. Phase two seeks to improve existing connections between the locations in preparation for the vehicle’s use.
Construction has been delayed by a multitude of problems
Recent years have seen significant funding problems arise for the project, and subsequently much criticism.