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原文传递 Foreign Involvement in U.S. High Speed Rail Projects: Risks, Problems, Opportunities.

题名：	Foreign Involvement in U.S. High Speed Rail Projects: Risks, Problems, Opportunities.
作者：	Cohen, J. K.
关键词：	High speed rail, Foreign participation, Technology transfer, Rail technology innovation, Bullet train, Rail manufacturing, High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, Japan, France
摘要：	In the early 1980’s, promoters who wanted to build new, very high speed, rail lines in states such as California, Florida, and Texas, were obliged to rely on foreign rail technology and expertise. This research Report explains how, when, and why that dependence developed, and assesses the problems associated with importing foreign technology. The research disputes the oversimplified notion that the decline of American passenger railroads in the 1950’s and 1960’s led directly to reliance on Japanese, French, and other foreign technology. In fact, starting in the 1930’s, American railroads and manufacturers were leading innovators in high speed technology, and Japan’s Bullet Train, which startled the world when launched in 1964, was based, in significant measure, on U.S. technology. Furthermore, as late as the mid-1970’s, the U.S. rail and aerospace sector was capable of developing very high speed, steel-wheeled trains and frictionless ground transport. Soon thereafter, however, the federal government withdrew support for research and development of new high speed technology. This, combined with the broader decline of the passenger rail market, caused American manufacturers to withdraw from that business sector. Thus, promoters of very high speed projects in the U.S. became dependent on foreign technology. They discovered, however, that transfer of technology from abroad was not a simple process, needing to overcome obstacles such as Tier 3 safety requirements and organizational protectiveness with regard to patents and licenses. This Report identifies the main problems associated with technology transfer, and in so doing also shows that further research is needed on how the U.S. might reclaim its historic status as a leading innovator in high speed ground transport.
报告类型：	科技报告