Why is America not investing in a bullet train infrastructure between major cities?

[Anonymous]

It would provide so many jobs, the trains can almost match airplanes in terms of how long it takes to get somewhere (especially in the shorter to middle-distance range), you can transport more people with little effort as well

[BeMuse]

We have high speed rail where it financially makes sense... If it's not profitable, then other forms of transportation win. Look up the Florida Brightline as an example. In contrast China invested in high speed rail all over the country and it is financially unstable and as a result a failed project. Sometimes high speed rail makes sense deepening on level of demand, sometimes low speed rail makes sense, sometimes airports make sense, sometimes roads/busses make sense. Not every transportation option is suitable for every location.

[BeMuse]

Currently the Florida Brightline runs through Miami, Fort lauderdale, West Palm Beach on phase 1 of the first leg. Phase 2 on the first leg adds Boca Raton, Aventura, and PortMiami whose stations are under construction now. The second leg runs from West Palm Beach to Orlando in phase 1 with two future stops in phase 2 likely in Cocoa due to Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral, and other Cocoa Beach attractions. The second stop could be anywhere from Melbourne to Fort Pierce. Proposals and negotiations are still underway. Sebastian does have Disney's Caribbean Beach, John's Island Club, The Polo Club and other upscale resorts in the area. Brightline wanted a stop there but got fought by the county so it might end up in south Brevard county. The third leg is set to run from Orlando to Tampa with an additional stop Disney Springs in phase 1. Phase 2 will probably add a stop in Lakeland. There have also been consideration of a forth leg from Cocoa to Jacksonville.

, Orlando, () Cocoa, Treasure Coast (Tampa, Disney Springs)

[BeMuse]

Leg 1 runs at 125 mph. Leg 2 runs at 150 mph due to differences in population density.

[BeMuse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3zW5RopqsM

[BeMuse]

We also have flying taxis in the works...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diNWfqmIuxY

[josephinelcajon]

There are several major reasons. Our love of freedom of travel and how we travel and where we travel to. For instance, our big box stores are far apart and sell big items. We go to multiple places in one trip. Our transit system is very lacking. A simple trip may take you several hours! As for long distance, Once again we go to several places that are far apart. We like to bring a lot of things and here is a new problem security is just as bad as going on a plane. I have not even begun to mention the high prices lack of scheduling and speed of travel! YOU WILL NEVER GET ME TO TRAVEL THAT WAY!

[ChrisMaster69]

Part of the reason at a guess is a lot of the infrastructure is very close to orginal.

this makes making changes prohibitively expensive.

it’s similar reason the UK has never really done it.

it means ripping out a load of perfectly working train line to cut some time off a journey.

a lot of countries that have them it’s relatively new infrastructure.

[NamerOfStars]

Because we have safety laws and regulations that other places don't, and it's not as good an idea in consequence. We TRIED, with one between Chicago and Saint Louis, but it would only have cut the travel time from six hours to four and a half; not enough to make it a casual thing.

This country is a LOT bigger than most outsiders realize.

[exitseven]

It would be a lot of money during a time when America cannot pay to fix a few bridges without printing a truckload of money.

[zagor]

Even the regular train infrastructure is pretty bad. A few years ago I checked into taking a train from L. A. to Las Vegas. Yes there was such a route - that ran once a day in each direction.

[jahaims]

Because our politicians are pocketing money as it is instead of fixing the existing infrastructure

[In_Trance]

Because it would destroy other industries and in fact put more people out of work

[RuthlessAggression]

Because it's not necessary