I'm not as bullish on rail. I love taking trains -- it's by far my favorite way of getting around -- but it's so expensive to set up and maintain. every inch of track for hundreds of miles needs to be completely spotless to keep trains running at 200 mph+. Prior to the pandemic, the trend was on cheaper, lighter, quieter aircraft, with more point-to-point routes connecting smaller metro areas, like Hartford airport or Providence airport growing with more and more routes, cheaper parking, etc. As airplanes continue to develop (electric is probably the future) flying will get cheaper and cheaper. Rail may be the luxurious way to get around, but might not be worth the trillions of upfront investment, when you consider that even small metros can afford to build an airport.

As a counterpoint, I think Japan's investment in rail networks has paid off considerably. I suspect that country would be far worse off today if they didn't have the transportation networks they do (both HSR and normal rail).

Not only does it result in fast, convenient, walk-on travel between cities, it also results in a lot less gridlock meaning less commute time wasted, and more affordable, walkable real estate.

It’s a sample size of 1. Japan is doing great with HSR but also the economy has stagnated for years. Perhaps HSR creates wealth but the lack of flexibility is a long term liabaility?

It's amazing what a country can accomplish when they invest in themselves first and foremost. After rooting for the US in the last 2 years, I'm of the opinion that the US is too corrupted to ever regain its stature.

I disagree. Once we have electric airplanes with lots of point to point connection, it will be both faster and cheaper. These should be coming on in the next 2 decades and that the minimum time it would take to build such a system.

Its a gigantic investment to do high-speed train and almost always is a burning money pit that needs to be constantly subsidies.

You already have an existing road network that with increasingly self driving EV (at least on highways) can be used.

It could, but their investment in government of insiders is in my opinion more than enough to overcome their economic advantages. They could do well, but their government of the elites is more likely to crack down on development.