In the late 1960s, inspired by the success of the Shinkansen, the United States embarked on a high-speed rail project utilizing gas turbine railcars to revive their declining passenger rail services.
The vehicle used was the TurboTrain developed by United Aircraft, the same model used in Canada.
This version had a shorter consist than the Canadian one and boasted 1.5 times the power, promising superior acceleration and high-speed performance that was expected to surpass the Shinkansen of the time.
However, it was operated on conventional lines, which limited its potential.
The introduction of too many new technologies led to frequent mechanical issues, which garnered negative feedback.
Despite the unstable operations, the TurboTrain demonstrated high occupancy rates, indicating the potential demand for high-speed rail even in the car-dominated United States.
Nevertheless, the project was short-lived.
Unlike the French gas turbine railcars, which focused on robust and reliable vehicle design, the TurboTrain was eventually replaced by French turbotrains.
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