>>1610698Decisions CHSRA and Caltrans now make are similar to those SP had to make. And given how the existing system has essentially rebuilt most SP Norcal services, the direct comparison is reasonable. Just look at the plans for the San Joaquins, which will (eventually) be reformed to mirror pre-Amtrak SP service once there is a southern connection to San Jose. Likewise the furthest extent of SP's direct coach services (eg, excluding through-cars) to Portland, Salt Lake City and El Paso all represent the maximum extent of Caltrans' maximum scope of operations.
There's no real comparison especially when Caltrans will have a near monopoly, just as SP did, because private services refused to invest in their networks and build their own service. Service that could have been successful in the later 20th century despite the taxpayer-financed freeways and airports.
