So….in the case of CSHR, does the land surrounding it become more valuable because of it?
I suppose it depends on ridership. Will there be any? What is the incentive to take a three hour train ride between SF and LA versus a 50 min plane ride?
CSHR is a glorified interurban, and we remember the demise of those.
I can’t speak on CSHR, but riding the Shinkansen in Japan was far preferable to flying, even though it was about double the travel time. Much more comfortable, easier ingress/egress, no need to check luggage, etc.
Japan is much more urbanized than the California Central Valley so riding the train would make more sense.
Toyko to Sendai is only 230 miles in distance. LA to San Francisco is 383 by car.
And just the sheer volume of passenger traffic. Bullet trains from Tokyo to Osaka run on three to nine minute headways during the daytime.
JR is now converting seven cars to transport package freight on the trains, also.
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/
Take a look at SCMAGLEV on the site, too. Their plan for US’s NEC has a section.
How I’ve wished we’d have just welcomed JR with open arms to build a route somewhere in the US, adapted to our way of life.