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

The metropolitan region of Munich is 10,700 square miles. Atlanta is a little over 8000. There are 6.3 million people in Atlanta, there are 6 million in metro munich. Berlin is 11,973 square miles and 6.2 million people. Metro Birmingham is 4600 square miles and the population is 1.11 million. Atlanta is the most densely populated metro area of the 4, thus the least sprawling. Atlanta, Munich and Berlin are almost identical copies of one another...they have a relatively small city center and sprawling suburbs stretching for MILES. Birmingham isn't really a city, it is a big town. The difference between Atlanta, Munich and Berlin ain't population density or sprawl, it is quality and extensive public transportation in Germany and shitty public transportation in Atlanta and Germans are willing and able to walk more than a few hundred feet with needing a break....