Rail planners expect super-fast trains to run within nine years. At one point, the high-speed rail planners had a contingency plan to get started with diesel trains — a dispiriting and environmentally destructive compromise — if the funds did not materialize. But a spokesperson for the authority insisted Friday that the funding is now in place to move forward with a fully electrified high-speed system.

I see the editorial board is composed of clueless morons. "Environmentally destructive compromise"

So instead of the logical solution of switching the San Joaquins to the HSR line in the first phase, they'll force everyone to change trains at Merced BFE. You could save a lot of money by postponing building the electric infrastructure. Money that could be used to build more mileage in a phase two.

But global warming is a religion, so Cal Dems will waste tons of money to stay dogmatically pure. Throw money into the volcano to appease the gods.