I’m no civil engineer, but outside of tunnel-boring a 1500 mph “subway” railroad under the nation that would bee-line to cities hyper-fast (but no scenery, but you likely wouldn’t miss it), maybe a ready solution would be to piggy-back Acela-plus type rail into the Interstate Highway System. Most IHS routes are more or less bee-lines between cities, and rail construction shouldn’t cost more more than renovating old rail lines (imagine resurrecting a long dead rail line to Albany on the WEST side of the Hudson River on IS 87!) Most ISH have more than adequate “shoulder” or center divider room, the right-of-way problem is pretty much nil, almost unlimited future expansion/connections, and most ISH seem to have the gradual curves and gradients conducive to a Acela+ rail system. Yes, yes, the political, lobbyist (and state ego) problems are bone crushing, but ironically I think you can work out a workable mutually benefiting and creative solutions out of the box (maybe like rail to a destination and switching to the cars on the IS for local interests or whatever). Just a study couldn’t hurt and the pay-offs could be impressive.
James Greenidge
