In North America geography is the primary impediment to passenger rail of all stripes. High speed rail is even more at the mercy of physical reality.

Look at the article’s map. That empty distance between San Antonio and El Paso is nearly 900km of West Texas emptiness. There’s Del Rio and Van Horne as the biggest towns and Marfa as perhaps the most famous.

When last was San Antonio to El Paso an important trip for someone you know?