TrainBlog by Marcel Marchon

Mr. Lacôte of Alstom said three conditions had to be fulfilled for a country to turn to high-speed rail: the political will, large population concentrations, and a level of economic prosperity adequate to pay for a rail system. “In the United States you have the second two,” he said. “I am not sure that you have the first.”

(Overseas, the Trains and the Market for Them Accelerate - New York Times)

Yes, indeed - I think Mr. Lacote is totally right here: it’s the political will that seems to be missing. In fact, the current administration doesn’t even seem to think of railways as a real means of transportation - at least not for passengers. But you can’t just blame the current administration either - it’s been like that ever since Amtrak was created. One might wonder - why did they even bother back then?