👉 Swipe. China built the world’s largest high speed rail network in a little over a decade, linking most major cities with fast, frequent, and relatively affordable trains. In the same period, the U.S. mostly debated plans while a few projects in California, Florida, Texas, and the Northeast inched forward. What would it take for America to catch up? Clear federal leadership, dedicated long term funding, and faster permitting so projects do not spend years in paperwork. Prioritize a few busy corridors first like the Northeast, California, Texas Triangle, and Cascadia. Secure right of way, separate tracks from freight, and set national standards so trains can reliably run 200 mph. Then make it real for riders. Build dense station areas, integrate fares with local transit, and focus on all day frequency, not just peak hours. Support domestic train manufacturing and skilled jobs so the supply chain lives here. It is a big lift, but the playbook exists. Pick the corridors, fund them, an...