Remember that high-speed rail system we told you President Obama was planning a while back? (Or, if you didn’t hear it from us, chances are you heard it from somewhere.) Well, for those of you eco-gadget geeks, I want you to feast your eyes on this puppy: the N700 Bullet Train. “[F]ree internet, folding trays, access to electrical outlets in each seat, and an exceedingly smooth ride.” Drool.

Japan Pitches High Speed Rail to the US
Ever since Obama announced plans for a massive high speed rail system in the US, speculation has run wild about how they’ll be executed. The projected corridors were revealed a while back, but many details remain to be decided—perhaps most significantly, which high speed rail system will the president opt to use? Now, at least one compelling option is on the table: Japan’s cutting edge 186 mph N700 Bullet Train system may have just caught Obama’s eye.

As it well should: the N700 Bullet Train, which has been operating in Japan since 2007, is fast, efficient, and boasts a comfortable interior. Capable of hitting speeds up to 186 miles per hour, the N700 is about half as fast as an airplane. It was the first new train system to hit Japan since 1999, and it manages to reach the same speed as its predecessor with 19% less electricity usage—a huge savings.

And let’s not forget about the amenities: remember, one of the most important attributes of any new rail system in the US will be the ability to entice new riders away from taking their trips by car or plane. At least in its current Japanese incarnation, the N700 delivers: it offers free internet, folding trays, access to electrical outlets in each seat, and an exceedingly smooth ride.

Read the whole article here.

Also, check out this video interview of James McCommons, author of Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service on Fox Business.

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