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Every thread about high speed rail seems to have this response to an argument no one is making. NY-LA doesn't make sense, but it is nationally embarrassing not to have the BosWash corridor connected.

But it is connected.

By a train that averages 55 mph. That is a national embarrassment.

I found 70MPH, where did you see 55?

I misread the comment as Boston-New York like the route in the article. Boston-New York is slower than the rest of the route. South Station in Boston to Penn Station in New York takes 3:46[1] and those stations are 212 miles apart[2] which is an average of about 55 mph.

[1] https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/p...

[2] https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pennsylvania+Station,+New+Yo...

I see. Not that 70MPH is particularly great either.

The comparison was Ney York to Boston.

This all is really only true west of the Mississippi. Trains are quite widely used in the densely populated Northeast.

Good thing there are many major American cities closer to New York than LA, such as nearly every single one.