U.S. Media: Why Has America’s High-Speed Rail Struggled to Succeed?
The United States once served as a global benchmark for rail infrastructure, yet today it has no line that meets the international definition of high-speed rail—defined as sustained operation at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. Brightline, a private operator, currently runs a near-high-speed service between Miami and Orlando and has plans to build a true high-speed rail link from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. However, last month it filed for bankruptcy due to debt issues.
Experts point to a central cause: insufficient government investment. After World War II, public funding was prioritized for highways and air travel, while powerful lobbies representing the automotive, oil, and aviation industries helped marginalize high-speed rail development. Additionally, the country’s vast geography and low population density mean that cities are often more than 400 miles apart, making rail less competitive with air travel. Passenger volumes remain significantly lower than in countries like Japan—where annual ridership reaches hundreds of millions—compared to Amtrak’s Acela service, which carries around 12 million passengers annually.
The California High-Speed Rail project has suffered severe cost overruns and delays, with experts describing it as having reached a dead end. While Brightline maintains an optimistic outlook, analysts emphasize that long-term success for high-speed rail hinges on sustained government support, given its broader public benefits such as reduced emissions and improved safety.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878132501660672/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.