Some transportation experts and government officials are pushing for design changes that would offer riders a "one-seat ride" between the Central Valley and downtown, or even Orange County, from the start of service.
That could be accomplished, proponents of the change say, by blending the operations of Metrolink and the high-speed system through track-sharing and electrification of part of the Metrolink system, much like what the state is doing with local commuter rail service in the Bay Area.
Thus far, Metrolink officials have been cool to the idea, citing, among other things, the cost and complexity of overlapping operations.
Start of construction of the bullet train's L.A. section is at best years away. But the emerging debate reflects the long-range effects of key decisions now being made on specific routes, and the design of the trains, station platforms and other parts of the system.
The issues directly affect whether and how the two systems could be integrated in Southern California. If the issues are not fully considered early on, some experts warn, the option to coordinate Metrolink and high-speed rail operations could be foreclosed, jeopardizing the system's long-term success.
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