My understanding is that in the US there's a combination of issues which make high speed train impossible. 1. Very high cost to build. 2. Major airlines make most of the profits from short flights and they lobby against the construction or expansion of trains. 3. Regulations, in a state like Ca is close to imposible ti build something without state government pulling a law of _ (you fill it) protected species. Imagine if Bay Area/NYC had a European/Japanese quality trains, the house prices wouldn't be that bad
