>>1301949>>1302075But, as glorious as it was, people are right when they say THAT era's not coming back. What they're wrong about is what can replace it.
For freight, the US is covered. Honestly, the best thing we can do for our freight rail system is to NOT mess with it, because somehow they've managed to carve out a market niche against the subsidized trucking industry.
Passenger? Hoo boy, that's a fucking doozy. There are a couple of strategies, but they all rely on corridors. For commuter rail, the literal best thing you can do? UNFUCK ZONING.
For intercity rail? Either settle for medium-speed trains and re-use tracks (diesel or electric will work here), or go all-in and build new corridors for very-high-speed trains.
NEVER do half-and-half. That's how you get California. Just pick one approach, and stick with it.
