Travel by Calif bullet train officials questioned

Ethics issues are being raised about abroad trips taken by California bullet train officials who are reportedly unable to detail costs and sponsors of the travel.

The Los Angeles Times says the travel was paid by governments of nations whose companies want contracts to build the proposed $43 billion Soutchernb California-to-San Francisco high-speed rail assignment.

Details of journey gifts to agencies are required by California ethics regulations.

Interviews and records examined by the newspaper show California High-Speed Rail Authority board members and the former executive director took tours of train systems in Spain, France or Germany previous year.

The authority must publicly disclose donated travel information. But high-speed rail officials haven't provided an accounting and information about the trips haven't been posted on the authority's website.