re: Can high speed rail work in the United States?

There is too much red tape in the US for the construction to be worth it IMO.

Sad, but true. Environmental, right of way, municipalities bitching about stop locations, people wanting palms greased, etc.

And the already mentioned issue of what do you do when you get where you're going. US isn't meant for trains everywhere.

I would be really fricking cool to take a train across the country in a private car though on a high speed rail. Not practical to build though.