Well I actually do know. The United states is terrible at building big infrastructure projects. For big projects huge contracts are drawn up by expensive consultants too detail everything that could possibly happen and the responsibility and penalties of each contractor. Then companies bid on the parts and their is…

So this make Planes better than High Speed Rail in all circumstances how ? How very strange.

So either the US is incompetent at building things or not bothered. Because everywhere else manages to do it.

So the US isn't willing to build HSR. Thats fine, but thats America's problem not a problem with HSR. It could be built easily enough if there was political will.

You don't build HSR and then complain its slow. Acela is not HSR.

Population density tells you nothing. You need big cities within a few hundred miles of each other. There are a number of places in the US which fit this description.

You are also breaking the speed limit (I get it way too low in the US) if you are doing it in 5. Your mini-van is nowhere near as comfortable as a good train. I'm sorry its just not. You don't have fast wifi you may have mifi if you have paid for it yourself. Minivan seats are smaller and much less comfortable than…

I went on the southwest website. The fare was 241 dollars return at cheapest.

Come again. All four are within 622 miles. They are plenty close for high speed rail. Connect a handful of cities that's all you need to do.

Plus the cost of owning a car, keeping it on the road, tax, insurance, parking. Plus we don't hate the environment here so petrol costs quite a bit more. I also love how your car can drive over the fucking ocean. Building the Chunnel was expensive, a car tunnel would be many times more expensive.

Salt Lake city to Las Vegas is 425 miles and takes 5 hours 51 minutes according to the impartial source of Google Maps. Madrid to Barcelona is 390 miles and takes 5 hours and 39 minutes (better roads but more mountainous) according to Google maps. The train takes 3 hours from city center to city center. It is also…

Population density is a distraction, HSR doesn't stop at every station. You need large cities within a couple of hundred miles of each other. Any further and planes become faster despite their problems. The east coast of the USA has lots of big cities which are within a few hundred miles of each other. Baltimore,…

Look at any of the high speed rail operators in Europe or Taiwan or China. They are all profitable.

London to Amsterdam is only 89 pounds on Eurostar. I love St Pancreas station and you can work or read or watch movies or sleep on your very comfortable journey.

While the population density of individual metropolitan centers is high, the density of the U.S. as a whole is low, meaning that the distance needed to be traveled is much, much bigger.

Air fares in Europe are much cheaper despite heavier taxes to discourage it. The total average fare per mile in the United States is 23 cents per mile, while in Europe it is 11 cents. Remove the taxes and fees and Europe’s advantage is even clearer. The base fare per mile in the United States is 19 cents, while in…

I don't think anybody want to build at transcontinental high speed railway. How about connecting NY, Boston, Philly, Baltimore etc ?

Air travel is not quicker nor cheaper. For shorter distances trains are more comfortable, cost less and get me there in less time and in the city center.

High speed rail is profitable in many countries. Sorry the facts don't fit your ideology.

I thought of this immediately.