Do you know what you speak of?
Have you seen the California HSR project plan? It is a $100 billion subway.
They are going to put trains capable of nearly 200 mph on routes with train stations every 10 to 20 miles. The trains will NEVER run at top speed between stations.
They have the billion dollar Acela running on such a crappy schedule that the 1930's era steam engine that ran the Boston to NY City run in the 1940's did the run in over an hour less time than the billion dollar toy.
HSR implimentation in the US is a joke because the pols play lip service to it, but refuse to make the tough decisions like telling a wealthy Connecticut community they have to deal with a train doing 150 mph through their town.
Instead you end up with a patchwork of NIMBY agreements that put low speed limits on perfectly good track or express rail beds being closed in favor of eco-friendly bike paths and walking trails.
You mention the chunnel run between London and Paris. Did you know the chunnel its self is longer than the average designed distance between California HSR stations? The 2 1/2 hour run between London and Paris is longer than the longest route planned in California. The extended length of time between stops maximizes the trains high speed capabilities.
The short hops in Californias HSR plan wastes all of that capability and more importently, the money that would paid for it. Just like Acela.
