[muawiyah]

A train that stops only at the two ends of the line is of economic use only to those who are at those ends (or who can otherwise access them through other means, e.g, trucks, planes, etc.).

One of the reasons trains went out of service as a way of moving people is they just can't compete with automobiles and planes.

[MeganC]

Trains did fine up against planes and cars until government subsidized roads and airports came along.

I’d be right with you on denounicing public funds for HSR if public funds were eliminated for roads and airports and then billions in bail-outs for the airlines.

It’s not like private firms are not willing to build HSR (as in Texas). But when Southwest Airlines pours millions into lawsuits to stop a competititve HSR plan (again, see Texas) then the only way to get the thing built is with the power of government.

So like I’m saying, if you want to level the playing field you’ll find that private investors are willing to build HSR because the numbers for it make sense. But if you’re going to get all upset about public funds going to HSR while being silent about highways and airlines/airports that would go bankrupt if required to run on their own then I guess you see where I stand.