The road lobby scored a major victory in America on Thursday 17 November 2011 when £5 billion worth of proposed funding for high speed rail was axed.

The Republican party, which is bankrolled by the road lobby was jubilant after Congress approved ditching high speed from the Appropriations Bill which sets out 2012 funding levels for the Department of Transportation.

One cynical commentator said: “Sorry folks, the US Government is gonna need the money to build prison camps and conduct wars for oil companies. Hey, you wouldn't want your local oil barons to go poor, now would you?”

Another more thoughtful critic said: “All the Federal Interstate highways should be converted to toll roads, with the money going to fund federal programmes including high speed rail.”

Existing funding streams mean that preparatory works for a number of projects, including California’s high speed line, can continue for the time being. It may still be possible for money from other programmes to be diverted to high-speed trains.

It is regrettable that Republicans continue their attacks against high speed rail, said Democrat House leader Nancy Pelosi but she agreed with President Obama in his commitment to high speed rail for California and the nation.

California’s Democratic governor Jerry Brown is hoping to continue work on the state’s high speed project.

The first phase of construction between Fresno and Bakersfield is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in three to five years at a cost of £3.7 billion which includes £2 billion in federal funding and £1.7 billion in state bonds.

President Obama had requested £5 billion for 2012 nationally and £33 billion over six years for the high speed programme.

Amtrak’s overall funding was also reduced from £354 million to £294 million, although it might be able to increase capital spending.

It should allow Amtrak to continue some enhancements on the line between Boston and Washington DC.

Information from Railway Gazette International, USA Today, California Watch, and AP.