[jaxytee]

Speaking of the northeast corridor specifically, there is a crap ton of bureaucracy inhibiting the construction of a high speed line.

Think of all of the state/municipal level governments and unions that have to be satisfied before any deal is struck. This would essentially mix NYC, Jersey, Philly, Baltimore, and D.C. politics into one huge pile of WTF.

We couldn't even get a riverfront project going in Philadelphia because not enough (of the powers that be) palms were greased.

Only way this could be possible is if some benevolent Palpatine-esqe dictator comes along and makes shit happen.

[smackfu]

Eh, I think the biggest problem is just right-of-way issues. It's easiest to build high-speed rail if you are starting from scratch, instead of trying to work around an active commuter rail line and an existing Amtrak service. But obtaining the necessary right-of-way to do a new build in the Northeast would be extremely expensive.