RE: Amtrak's high-speed rail vision for 2040: New York to Washington in 96 minutes
Its hard to convince US citizens to use the train for 3 major reasons.
A. we're lazy
B. a car is a major status symbol in the US. The more exposure we have for people to see us in our nice cars, the happier we are. Why have that BMW if we don't drive it constantly and have people ask us about it and tell people we own one? If we all took the train then we can't be elitist. We're all evened out.
C. Instant gratification. We always want it right away. No matter what point in time, those in charge will say "what we won't get it for another 20 years, forget it". 20 years later "what we won't get it for another 20 years forget it". We could have had a great rail system in use by now. Even environmentalist shows the same impatience.
