[joewee]

It should be extensive, United States of America is the 3rd largest country by land mass in the world. Larger than China.

Airline deregulation didn't occur in the USA until the late 70's. Until then most American's still preferred to travel by car. Not rail.

So I do agree that American's had less of a need for a national rail because the country had a well developed interstate highway system for all those cheap gas guzzling cars. Great until gas became expensive. Oops.

I would argue southwest could only succeed because of a failed rail system. But I have no data to support that theory.