politics

Abe promotes shinkansen technology to Singapore

26 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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26 Comments
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Between LV and calif line had been proposed every year. Demand exists.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

there is no need for shinkansen in the west US

a high speed (120kph) train is fast enough to serve the needs of the LA, SF, LV area.

If the demand of this area increases, a shinkansen route might be useful, but at this moment it is better served by driving or by airplane

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Abe should promote Shinkannsento western states in USA. Nevada has been trying but any Japan Innnnc. avoid Nevada, so, a Chinese bullet train finally got contract. Conn ecting north to south western state. Money is no. Problem of our state.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't know the issue your referring to, so I can't really comment on it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@strangerland

Beyond the initial segment, there is a $43.5-billion shortfall in the amount of money identified as available to complete the system. Who's going to pay this?

Source: LA times

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

As long as cheap gas is available, people will fly or drive the north-south route. I doubt bullet train will ever become profitable in California. Compare gas prices of California to Japan.

Maybe. But have you driven between LA and SF? It's not something someone can drive for a meeting. Flying requires going to the airports, being early, checking in etc. Shinkansen would provide an alternative method. People can fly domestically in Japan as well (and often do), but look how popular the shinkansen is, due to the central location of its stations, speed, and easiness of use.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Strangerland SEP. 30, 2016 - 08:10AM JST That depends where in North America. California, with a population of 30 million, would likely be able to support a North-South shinkansen route.

As long as cheap gas is available, people will fly or drive the north-south route. I doubt bullet train will ever become profitable in California. Compare gas prices of California to Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Airplanes are far better methods of travel in North America and Australia.

That depends where in North America. California, with a population of 30 million, would likely be able to support a North-South shinkansen route. Or maybe as you say:

The only place i can think of in the US that might benefit is the NE - NYC, Boston, Washington

I agree with this:

Canada doesn't even register on the scale of need for a shinkansen

A country that huge with distances that large wouldn't be able to support shinkansen technology. It would be took expensive to build, and not gain back its value.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They should sell it to Canada, especially Toronto... It is very much sub-par in terms of speed/reliability/efficiency - sop pretty much all fronts.<

Canada doesn't need it, and it would cost an arm and a leg, forget it Japan can keep it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Shinkansen are useless in large countries with low population density.

Airplanes are far better methods of travel in North America and Australia.

The ideal route pairing for shinkansen cities is less than 3 hours travel time

This means you need to have two or more cities under hours apart by shinkansen in order for people to utilize it more than they would use airplanes to cover the same distance

The only place i can think of in the US that might benefit is the NE - NYC, Boston, Washington

Canada doesn't even register on the scale of need for a shinkansen

1 ( +2 / -1 )

*

To commemorate the occasion, Lee received one of Japan’s highest awards on behalf of his father, late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who founded Singapore*

Wrong. The late Mr Lee is not the founder of Singapore. It's Raffles from 200 years ago.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They should sell it to Canada, especially Toronto... It is very much sub-par in terms of speed/reliability/efficiency - sop pretty much all fronts.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries.

I think with a lot of these deals the purchasing country asks itself, "Who will we be doing a lot of business with in the future?"

The Singaporeans will conclude that, as the rising sun becomes the setting sun, it will not be Japan.

This will affect their decision.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Don't think it will ever happen. Oz is imo too big for a high speed rail network, planes are and will always be the answer.

Flights of reasonable cost are only available to the major cities. Flights to regional cities are absolutely exorbitant, so much so that many use the old XPT system in NSW because flights to major towns are just beyond affordable for all but business users. When you are paying $350 for a 1 hour flight, that is not affordable. The planned route from Melbourne to Sydney, would take in major regional cities like Albury which is a big attraction for the project. It will help facilitate diversification away from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. That's a major plus in many peoples eyes. Also Australia will have double the population it has now by 2050 and it will take at least twenty years to build the entire network, which is why it needs to start now to take advantage of that population growth and they can't all go in Sydney and Melbourne. That is an impossibility.

Uhm, I think the Australia-France submarine deal is an issue...

That decision, disappointing as it was for Japan and questionable as it still is for many, didn't change the fundamentals of the relationship, which remains extremely positive.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

smithinjapan, very good post. I think Japan should do other way around.Singapore is a small country with smart people who are doing so well without any resources. As Japan is emptying with depopulation, Japan should open it's immigration and invite Singapore people and companies.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Australia is after all a massive country. It would also be wonderful for Australia's development and something the majority of Australians would fully support."

Don't think it will ever happen. Oz is imo too big for a high speed rail network, planes are and will always be the answer. Plus the cost of renovating the tracks would be prohibitive. Fast trains are good for 'normal' size nations with plenty of mid/big cities, not for massive countries with 5-6 1M + cities and nothing else.

Not surprising it worked particularly well in countries like japan and france.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Abe told Lee that he has high expectations that Singapore will pick the Japanese shinkansen “as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries.”

Nothing like a poorly veiled threat and the usual misuse of "expect" from Japan. With Singapore being largely ethnic Chinese and its strong links to China, I wonder if Japan can succeed in winning over the nation. It is definitely among the safest of train systems, but it is also the most expensive, and made in Japan is not what it used to be, especially with all the company scandals, parts blowing up, and faked efficiency records.

I don't think the current MRT system is based on Japanese design, is it?

Anyway, if Abe's smart, his little threats will be cast aside and he'll try and sell it promising domestic jobs and cheap cost, given what happened in Australia with the sub deal and Indonesia with the trains. But it's Abe, after all, so 'smart' doesn't figure into anything as much as sense of entitlement, superiority-complex, delusions of grandeur, and flat out lies about the current situation of things.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I`ve been to Singapore a couple of times, English is the main language used there (though of course a lot of other languages are also used). Not sure why the language spoken would be relevant though....

Its worth adding that this isn`t solely a Singapore project, it involves Malaysia too (in fact, most of the line will be in Malaysia). Not sure how they are managing the bidding process (Singapore is clean as a whistle in terms of corruption, Malaysia much much less so).

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No worry I assure readers that Singapore will choose Japan for this contract. Safety is the key for Singapore and long term economy view for spore tourism especially to Sentosa Island. An island without raw resources will have to go all out to increase export of service sectors.My concern is Malaysia decision.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Singapore having a common language with China and painfully aware of how business with Japan is so difficult makes me believe China will outwit Japan again.

The official languages of Singapore are English, Tamil, Malay, Standard Mandarin. Standard reference works say that the schools teach primarily in English. I get a fair number of Singapore students, mostly ethnic Chinese. They also tell me that English is the primary language in Singapore.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Our relationship with Japan has no such issues.

Uhm, I think the Australia-France submarine deal is an issue...

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Wish he would come to Australia and really forcefully promote Shinkansen here. Our relationship with China is generally friendly and solid, but there have been several areas of dispute which highlight how difficult it might be to maintain that relationship over the next 20, 30 years which would make a decision in China's favor fraught with difficulty. It will take decades to build the east coast network here. Our relationship with Japan has no such issues. It is very positive all round. The safety record of Shinkansen would be highly appealing to us. Japan should realize that securing Shinkansen technology in Australia would be a massive coup for them, potentially providing them with the rights to build the largest fast train network outside of China and the money to improve and promote the system overseas. Australia is after all a massive country. It would also be wonderful for Australia's development and something the majority of Australians would fully support.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Abe always eager to help out JR Tokai and Yoshiyuki Kasai, one of the main forces behind Abe's rise to power.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I recall a similar situation with Indonesia and the Chinese won the deal. Singapore having a common language with China and painfully aware of how business with Japan is so difficult makes me believe China will outwit Japan again.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Wish Shinkansen people will not ignore USA from now on.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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