Anger over SNCF's Holocaust role brought up in US high speed rail contract.bid.

Run_to_da_hills

The French national railway's bid to win America's first high-speed rail contract will face the fury of Holocaust survivors over the company's role in transporting Jews to Nazi death camps.



A leading opponent, Rosette Goldstein, will voice her opposition on behalf of many Holocaust survivors when the Florida Department of Transportation holds a public meeting in Orlando on the £1.7 billion high-speed rail project, which would connect Tampa and Orlando.

Ms Goldstein, 71, of Boca Raton, Florida, and others - including some politicians - want the SNCF railway to formally apologise for its role in the war, give full access to its records and make reparations.

This is a stupid and unfounded accusation as SNCF and other large corporates had the gun to their heads in the matter when under Nazi occupation. Have we received apologies from Siemens, AEG, Bosch and BASF who were also "involved" with the Nazi holocaust cause?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iAcDPPOMSdraPYOZ-odPt-c25Mqg

Cookie_Monster

Americans :rolleyes:

Mucco

This was in the Economist a few weeks back.
American firms want want to win the contract, so they're looking for excuses not to award them to European or Japanese companies, despite these being the world leaders.
Stupid really as the Americans have zero expertise in high speed rail.

Terrontress

Don't underestimate the US Government's desire at present to employ dirty tricks in damaging foreign corporations operating in the US.

The government went in for the kill against Toyota in relation to several car crashes. The investigations were widely published and discussed. It turns out driver error was to blame although I haven't seen that in many newspapers.

Obama repeatedly stressed BP is a British company, even though it is publicly traded. He did not mention that it was an American company drilling on BP's behalf. Now there are BP boycotts.

This American admministration is full of dirty tricks.

BenShermin

Meah, within a few years it will end up being First SNCF anyway.

Run_to_da_hills

They could also consider AVE S103 , however these same nutters would probably bring up the subject of the inquisition.

Mucco

Terrontress wrote: »

Obama repeatedly stressed BP is a British company, even though it is publicly traded. He did not mention that it was an American company drilling on BP's behalf. Now there are BP boycotts.

The largest shareholder nationality for BP is American. ~40% when I checked at the time of the bad press.

dowlingm

HSR is seen as "socialist" in the states, and the freight companies are very nervous about being forced to allow passenger rail onto their networks. Not saying UP, BNSF, CN and the rest put this stupid woman up to it, but they will be lobbying hard in other ways.

Cool Mo D

dowlingm wrote: »

HSR is seen as "socialist" in the states, and the freight companies are very nervous about being forced to allow passenger rail onto their networks. Not saying UP, BNSF, CN and the rest put this stupid woman up to it, but they will be lobbying hard in other ways.

The California high speed line won't be sharing any freight track though - so that's not an issue in this case.

dowlingm

US politics works like the Spatial Strategy - there has to be something for everyone. The federal "high speed" programme outside California where LGVs just wouldn't be feasible includes upgrading mixed traffic routes from 79mph to 110mph and those include freight corridors.

Terrontress

Mucco wrote: »

The largest shareholder nationality for BP is American. ~40% when I checked at the time of the bad press.

As I said, publicly traded. A bit like Dunnes Stores "We're Irish" but what percentage of Irish people hold shares or pension with shares in the Tesco?