I have really interesting question for you: could you suggest any other transport for so terrestrial country as Russia, country level scale, NOW, even not start of 20th century?
Nothing wrong with building railways. And like tulip bulbs and AI some investment is indeed warranted.
The point is that people sometimes have way too high expectations about ROI and ignore or underestimate the greater (historical) context of the novelty.
The point is that people sometimes have way too high expectations about ROI and ignore or underestimate the greater (historical) context of the novelty.