Update November 16: Welcome Post Bulletin readers. We find it fascinating that the North American High Speed Rail Group is now claiming to be in negotiations with XpressWest to run the project and so did not put in a proposal of its own.
When we called the company's office in Vegas shortly after the earlier September 26 story, Private rail company seeks to build high-speed rail across U.S., appeared in the Post Bulletin, the gentleman to whom we spoke at XpressWest had no knowledge of the Minnesota-based company.
The Post reported at the time:
The private company seeking to build a high-speed rail line from Rochester to the Twin Cities is also vying for the right to build four other corridors, including a proposed line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
North American High Speed Rail Group spokeswoman Wendy Meadley said the company is competing for the chance to build the L.A. to Vegas rail line. Last week, the L.A. Times reported that officials from XpressWest announced they had partnered with China Railway International USA to finance part of the L.A. to Vegas project. That group is a consortium led by China Railway, which is the People's Republic of China's national railroad. The Chinese group pledged it would provide $100 million in initial capital for the project.
Meadley said despite the announcement, no deal has been finalized. The Minnesota-based rail group is still in the running to build the train. She noted that the cost of the entire project is likely $4 billion to $12 billion.
"It's actually one of the corridors we are pursuing very actively," she said.
Now, the Post Bulletin reports in Rail group still seeks L.A. to Vegas line in the Political Notebook column:
Rail group spokeswoman Wendy Meadley had previously told the Post-Bulletin that the company was seeking to build the L.A. to Vegas rail line. So why didn't the company apply for the franchise rights?
Meadley said in an interview that was never the company's plan. Instead, she said the company is negotiating with the owners of the XpressWest proposal for the chance to build and operate the corridor. XpressWest is owned by Marnell Cos. and was one of four companies to apply for the franchise rights. Marnell Cos. did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
But if that wasn't the company's plan--to compete with XpressWest--it certainly sounded that way at the time. Moreover, it would seem odd for a company that had secured an agreement with a Chinese train builder and managed to put a proposal into the Nevada High Speed Rail Authority would turn their project over to folks who have--what exactly?
We too have left a message at Marnell Company--and have requested the business plan from MNDOT.
According to Marnell's webpage about the project:
Perhaps our earlier source might be able to update us as well. [end update]
Original Post
In a late October post, Bluestem had reported that the North American High Speed Rail Group was not among four Nevada franchise applicants. The post was a follow-up to Rochester mayor can probably stop worrying much about high speed rail group jilting city for Vegas.
As we noted in the former post, The Nevada High Speed Rail Authority had extended its deadline for proposals until Wednesday, November 4, so the self-promoting folks at the NAHSRG had more time to follow through with the implied threat that they'd go elsewhere.
That deadline has passed. Richard N. Velotta reports in Wednesday's Las Vegas Review Journal article, XpressWest draws nominal high-speed rail competitors:
When the Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority meets later this month to consider awarding a franchise for a system to deliver train passengers between Las Vegas and Southern California, there will be two competitors vying against the favorite, XpressWest.
Las Vegas-based XpressWest, formerly known as DesertXpress, has been the anticipated franchisee ever since Senate Bill 457 was signed into law earlier this year. The system requirements listed in the legislation match closely with those in the XpressWest business plan.
But the five-member authority is expected to hear presentations on each proposal Nov. 18, even though neither of the underdog competitors qualify based on the requirements of the legislation.
In addition to XpressWest, proposals will be offered by Sky Tram International, Portland, Ore.; and Las Vegas-based David Brough's Dual-Mode Advanced Vehicular Endeavor, known as D.A.V.E. There won't be a presentation on a third proposal, submitted by the Reno-based Nevada Intercity Passenger Railroad, headed by Lamar Aiazzi.
Let's exorcise that phantom NAHSRG train in Vegas, shall we?
Image: A drawing from the NAHSRG's website.
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