Why is the U.S. behind with developing the world’s fastest high-speed trains?

Illinois politicians are celebrating the upgraded train speeds of 110 miles per hour from Chicago to St. Louis, but compared to Europe’s High-speed trains of over 200 mph, why is the US far behind in modernizing its rail system?

Today we explore why the rail systems in Europe and Asia travel faster than the U.S. We also reflect on why the U.S. train system continues to fall behind, despite the recent flush of funding from the federal infrastructure bill. Lastly, we ask how the U.S. can catch up in modernizing their train system, making it more accessible to low-income and the working class.

GUEST:

Rick Harnish
Executive Director, High-Speed Rail Alliance