Report: East Japan Railway eyes bid on California high-speed rail project

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) plans to participate in the bidding process to supply rail cars for California's high-speed rail line, according to a Sept. 6 report in The Japan Times.

Citing JR East sources, the news site stated the company intends to market its Shinkansen technology and participate in the rail-car bid with six other Japanese companies, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Hitachi Ltd. and Sumitomo Corp.

The companies hope to obtain a contract that would include rail cars and track signals, according to the report.

Because California is often hit by earthquakes, JR East will promote its track record on disaster recovery and the speed at which it restored rail service after an offshore earthquake hit Tohoku in 2011, JR East sources told The Times.