SNCF, the French national railroad, was among bullet train operators from Europe and Japan that came to California in the early 2000s with hopes of getting a contract to help develop the system.

But SNCF backed out in 2011. Executives saw cronyism and political potholes everywhere. Instead, SNCF went to Morocco. Within six years it had completed Morocco’s bullet train line. They didn’t return to California, nor would it ever. There is too much waste and indecision in California. //

SNCF recommended a direct line from LA to San Francisco. That made sense and it is clear that is what the bond issuance was for. The politicians said no.

An LA County Supervisor wanted the train to run through his district which included the upper Mojave desert, and the city of Palmdale. For those unfamiliar with Southern California that change required a northern jag of an added 41 miles of extra line. //

Imagine my excitement when Newsom announced that California will mandate electric cars. Somehow the state will completely rebuild its electric grid in twelve years. It took the state twenty years(!) to rebuild the Bay Bridge after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.