Just wondering if the prevalence of crossings and unfenced track is the real brake on HSR development in the States?
Here in the UK, we've realized - like the Japanese, French, Germans and others - that new dedicated routes are necessary for 200mph+ running, but we're having a huge fight over the cost of a new high speed route from London to Birmingham, Manchester and beyond.
Re. Inter-City125 - a brilliant concept for its day, when introduced in 1976, 125mph as standard for mainlines. But now 180mph+ is the true standard for high speed rail and something we've struggled to introduce in the UK.
Paul