In the US, rail travel is not an example of 'if you build it they will come.' Continuing to fund rail expansion is a waste of taxpayer funds. The reasons rail travel is not likely to increase even with better systems are:
1) over long distances, air travel is faster and relatively cheap
2) over short distances, we prefer to drive; we have excellent highway systems, and driving is more time-flexible
3) many times, one needs a car at the destination, which makes driving in the first place more practical
The US is not Europe, which has major cities in close proximity, and generally poor highway systems. The federal government should abandon its efforts to push high speed rail in this country, and focus instead on updating air traffic control systems and maintaining the highways.
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