I understand that Acalea still suffered an unusual problem. Because the tracks are connected to freight tracks, regulation required it to do well in a collision with a heavier freight train. This means that it has to be much heavier than true HSTs are in other countries. That's why it goes much slower than HSTs elsewhere and is still pricey.
High speed trains in other countries also share tracks with freight- even if there are no freight services on dedicated high-speed lines, they won't necessarily be on such lines all the time.
FRA crash safety standards are stricter because of Not Invented Here syndrome.
