译文来源：三泰虎
外文标题：Why does high-speed rail remain elusive in the US?
外文地址：http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/why-does-high-speed-rail-remain-elusive-in-the-us/high-speed-rail-elusive-in-us/slideshow/47840707.cms
Travelers easily whiz from city to city on high-speed trains in many parts of South America, Asia and Europe. Since the first high-speed lines began operating more than 50 years ago in Japan, they have become an essential part of transportation worldwide.
Yet the US has never built a single stretch of high-speed rail, which is generally defined as accommodating trains that go at least 200 mph (321 kph). And proposals to do so have been thwarted for decades.
在南美、亚洲和欧洲的许多地区，乘客非常方便地乘坐高铁往来不同城市之间。自从日本50多年前开通高铁以来，高铁已经成为了全球交通运输业的重要组成部分。
然而，美国从未修建过哪怕是一段高铁，而这里的高铁是指时速至少200英里（321公里）的列车。且有关高铁的提议被阻挠了数十年。
So what's holding America back?
For starters, a much larger land mass, longer distances between major cities and the high cost of construction.
Other factors include efficient air travel, relatively low prices for gasoline and a car-based culture.
In recent decades, political pressure against bullet trains has come from conservatives who argue that such systems should acquire private financial backing and prove that their operations will at minimum be cost-neutral.
是什么阻止了美国？
首先是幅员辽阔的国土，大城市之间距离远，以及高铁昂贵的修建费用。
其他因素有高效的空中旅行、相对便宜的汽油价格和浓厚的汽车文化。
最近几十年，高铁的政治压力来自保守派，他们认为高铁应得到私人资金支持，并证明高铁至少是成本适中的。
It's a burden state and federal governments do not place on other huge transportation projects such as freeways and airports. For now, the best the country can do is Amtrak's Acela, which reaches speeds up to 150 mph on a busy route between Washington and Boston.
In an effort to jump-start high-speed rail, the Obama administration in 2009 awarded $7 billion for projects in California, Florida and Wisconsin. Republican governors in Florida and Wisconsin rejected the funding and backed out of high-speed rail plans, sending more of those dollars to California.
目前，美国最好的列车是运行在华盛顿和波斯顿繁忙路线之间时速150英里的阿西乐特快。
为了开启高铁，奥巴马政府于2009年为加利福尼亚、弗罗里达和威斯康星州的高铁项目拨款70亿美元。弗罗里达和威斯康星州的州长拒绝了这笔资金，且退出高铁计划，由此给加利福尼亚送去了更多美元。
Despite the political resistance and financial hurdles, two projects have moved beyond the conceptual phase. One is California's $68 billion plan for a high-speed rail network connecting Northern and Southern California. The other is the privately financed plan in central Texas.
尽管承受政治阻力和财政障碍，然而两个高铁项目还是走出了概念阶段。一个是加利福尼亚连接南北部的680亿美元的高铁计划，另一个是德克萨斯州中部私人融资的计划。
'The challenge in America is the scale of America,' said Robert Eckels, chief executive of the Texas Central High Speed Railway, a private venture that is planning a bullet train between Dallas and Houston.
The Texas project has received much less publicity than California's, yet it could become the nation's first operating bullet train line.
“美国的挑战是美国的规模。”德克萨斯中部高铁公司CEO罗伯特埃克尔斯说道。该公司是一家私营企业，规划达拉斯和休斯敦之间的高铁。
德克萨斯州的高铁项目受到的宣传远不如加利福尼亚的高铁项目，然而其可能成为该国第一条开通的高铁。
以下是《印度时报》读者的评论：
译文来源：三泰虎 http://www.santaihu.com/2015063005.html
Prabhas Ghosh (Unknown)
India is another candidate which shares the common concerns as to why high speed trains cannot be a reality in here. Large land mass, high cost of construction, and a bit hostile geographic conditions may prove high speed transport technology from fructifying. Imagine Mumbai Ahmedabad high speed train running 530 kms in 2 hours, with a minimum transit cost of close to 3000 rupees one way, and project outlay cost of close to 70k crores..insane!
印度高铁为什么也尚未成为现实，原因差不多。
幅员辽阔的国土，高昂的修建成本，有些恶劣的地理条件，也许证明高铁技术难以结出果实。
想象一下，孟买到艾哈迈达巴德的高铁2小时跑完530公里，单程票价大约3000卢比，项目支出成本接近7000亿卢比
不切实际！
Gaurav (Unknown)
nice.....
不错
kumar gaurav (Unknown)
Each country has its own risk and limits
每个国家都有自己的风险，都有自己的局限性。
Vasan S (chennai)
Reality is Lobbing from Car corporates to govt. If cost is reason, they would not have NASA. If they feel fuel is cheep and air itself is sufficient, they wont interfear other countries, real reason of Lobbing stops trains in US. forget about high speed trains, even many normal trains are not found in most places.
真相是来自汽车财团的游说群体。
如果是成本问题，那么就不会有美国宇航局了。
如果觉得油价便宜，觉得坐飞机足够，他们就不会去干涉其他国家了。
真正的原因是游说团体阻挠了美国高特的发展。
别提高铁了，很多地方连普通火车都找不到
vijay (India)
people prefer Air travel and road travel over train travel
人们喜欢坐飞机，喜欢开车，不喜欢坐火车