In a perfect world where the government actually abides by the Constitution as written, I'd agree. Unfortunately the reality is that we are burdened by huge beauracratic millstones that restrict, discourage, and outright prohibit the market forces at every turn. The only way I see to get past that and remedy this problem is by W using the bully pulpit and executive order during wartime.
" I'll stand corrected if wrong but I believe the needed railbeds are extant and needing just the rail and the trains."
The railbeds may still be there, but they were either in the wrong place and unprofitable, or now they have been converted to bike paths.
Please read the article:
BNSF and UP are investing about $200 million in a project that will eventually expand what had been a two-track line into three tracks for the entire 75-mile length. A 15-mile stretch will get a fourth set of tracks, BNSF spokesman Pat Hiatte said.
We're talking about widening an existing ROW (pretty clear if you bother to read the article) and laying new track. Like I said before, it will take far longer to acquire the money, property, plan and lay the track than anything else.
Am I claiming there will be no beauracratic hurdles? No, I'm not. But there is a huge beauracratic difference between starting from scratch and expanding an existing rail line. Your rants may be justified for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, but they're plain silly here.