Critics oppose Amtrak fallback plan for Calif. HSR

LOS ANGELES — Requirements that California’s high-speed rail project must run through the Central Valley and have another use, should the rest of the plan fall through, are at the center of a political battle, Los Angeles Times reported. Critics say the state's backup plan to use a 130-mile stretch of track for slower Amtrak service is ineffective because there's no guarantee the national rail service will use it.

Amtrak said it has no agreement to operate on the track and has not analyzed the possible negative effects on its rail line. For the full story, click here.