[ddreier]

I'm probably different from most people, but I really wish there were more rail options in the US (I'm in Texas). It's a 4 hour drive from where I live to my hometown. I really don't enjoy driving, and would happily take a train even if it took twice as long as driving. I'd visit home a lot more too.

[Gibbon1]

If it's a high speed rail line at some distance it becomes faster to go by rail. Even slow rail. I once took the train from Glasgow to London and it was about 5 hours. Same drive I think is 7 hours.

Personally I like to remind myself when I'm driving that every one taking mass transit isn't on the road with me.

[involans]

Three West Coast Main Line operates speeds up to 125mph/200kmph, so very much high speed rail in US terms - faster than the Acela if I recall correctly.

[redler]

I’ve seen 155 mph on the Acela, but it only cruises at those speeds for a few minutes on the NY to Boston leg. On these routes it’s not so much freight priority as track quality, segment grading, turn radius, etc. The old Metroliner trains could run nearly this fast. It’s disappointing.