Tag Archives: rapid transit

China Comes to U.S. Rescue of Maglev Train from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Long discussed and hotly debated for years, it appears if the magnetic levitation train (called ‘Maglev’) ferrying passengers (and tourists!) from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is really to get started in earnest, it will take Chinese funding- lots of it. 

China announced last week that it is willing to loan $7  billion to build the project. 

All that is needed for the loan to go though is a promise of support from the U.S. government. 

Maglev officials said the Export-Import Bank of China is willing to lend the money with the knowledge that if the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission is unable to pay the funds back, federal officials will. 

What’s a little petty cash transaction between friends?

{Also, a prior article is available on the high speed Maglev train issue by Las Vegas Backstage Access.}

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Las Vegas Monorail Faces Bankruptcy

Administrators say the Las Vegas Monorail might seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to restructure its bond debt. 

Despite handing out extravagant raises for a losing operation, Board member Bruce Woodbury said the company hasn’t raised enough money from fares to pay off the $650 million in construction and startup loans floated to build and start operating the system in July 2004. 

The 3.9-mile system runs on an elevated track linking several large hotel-casinos and the Las Vegas Convention Center east of the Las Vegas Strip. 

And, despite its dismal failure, Woodbury says plans still call for building a whopping $500 million extension to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport and other Strip resorts to boost revenues that didn’t happen with original monorail.

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