Elon Musk's recent comments at a Morgan Stanley investment conference criticized Amtrak, suggesting it should be privatized for better performance, contrasting it with China's high-speed rail. He stated that Amtrak represents a poor reflection of U.S. rail service. However, the article argues that Musk's comparisons are misleading since China's rail success stems from significant state investment and involvement. The disparity in planning, funding, and construction timelines highlights the challenges facing U.S. rail, implying that Amtrak could thrive with similar government backing.
Amtrak is a sad situation. If you're coming from another country, please don't use our national rail. It can leave you with a very bad impression of America.
What China has done is not even remotely connected to privatized enterprise, but instead is the result of intense, sustained, policy-driven state involvement.
If Amtrak got the same level of government support and decades-long sustained investment as the China State Railway Group has enjoyed, it's quite possible we would have a world-class high-speed rail network.
Planning and approval time for new service in China? Between two and five years. In the U.S.? Twenty years or more.
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