TOKYO/WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - The governments

of the United States and Japan signalled support for a plan to

build the first high-speed rail in the U.S. using Japanese

bullet trains after their leaders met in Washington on

Wednesday.

Reuters exclusively reported this week that President Joe

Biden is seeking to revive interest in the project linking the

Texas cities of Dallas and Houston and was likely to raise the

issue during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit.

The project was among several named in a fact sheet

published by the White House after the talks outlining

"political understandings" that were affirmed during the visit.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation and Japan's Ministry

of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism welcomed Amtrak's

leadership of the Texas Central High Speed Rail Project,

utilizing Shinkansen technologies," the fact sheet said.

"The successful completion of development efforts and other

requirements would position the project for potential future

funding and financing opportunities."

While advocates for the project, estimated to cost around

$25 billion to $30 billion, hope political support can unlock

new public and private cash to finally realise an idea that has

been talked about for decades, it still faces potential hurdles

in Texas and the U.S. Congress.

The 240 mile (380 km) rail link, which will be built and

operated by Texas Central Partners and Amtrak, is expected to

cut travel times between the cities to about 90 minutes, from

three-and-a-half hours by car.

Japanese state lenders, including the Japan Bank for

International Cooperation, have provided loans to help

develop the project, which plans to procure "shinkansen" bullet

train technology from Central Japan Railway ( CJPRF ).

Progress with the project would be a win for the Biden

administration, which has pushed climate-friendly policies and

rail investment.

But it has been opposed by some local groups over land and

other concerns and is likely to draw criticism, particularly

from hardline Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of

Representatives, who have objected to using public funds for

rail projects in the past.