Is there actual evidence that it wouldn't work, or we're making an assumption? That is what makes it work in those places but to say it could never work in North America because of that I think is crazy. I think it would connect more sparsely populated areas to the rest of the continent better than the interstate system. If it's convenient, people will use it, and if it's anything like the Shinkansen, then people will definitely use it.

The biggest problem in the USA specifically is not where the population centers are but simply politics. It's not necessarily that it can't work, it's that there's a lot of money invested into making sure it never happens.