High Speed Rail is a GREAT idea. Japan and Europe have known that for great many years.
A peculiar detail of trains is that they are most efficient in horizontal rails, not those that have to go up and down. Of course, Japan and Europe have constructed great many very long tunnels in the last 25 years. But, not the United States.
An Internet site with the Longest Rail Tunnels had only one from the USA in its list. One build about 70 years ago in the Cascade Mts., in Washington State, this tunnel was the shortest and oldest.

Another problem with High Speed Rail is that they are best for freight but are a luxury for passengers. The one proposed to link Los Angeles and San Francisco, jumped in price, its initial cost was predicted at around $10 Billion but the latest projection, after the Bond passed by a majority of only One (1) Percent, is now expected to be about $50 Billion.
The intent to compete with airlines in time and price is plain false. How can a train moving at half the speed of a jet, over a 50% longer distance, making Five (5) stops along the way be FASTER than a jet? With mirrors, you say?
Another set of mirrors was used to convince the Federal Transportation Administration that this was a good way to put people to work. This idea seems brilliant, compared to the “mythical” of the WPA that hired some to move dirt from one side of the road, and others to move the dirt back.
The prediction of the High Speed Rail is that it will fail in competition and that must be the reason why banks are willing to support AIG in its risky investments but not HSR in its California deception.
If bankers won’t lend them money and airlines seem totally oblivious to this alleged threat, should we worry? I say no! Let California pay for its $10 Billion Bond for Lesson One in the Citizen Lesson on learning who said “there is one born every minute” and “Were you one of them?” NO Federal Bailout, please! Send the money elsewhere.