The Jinghu HSR rail line from Beijing to Shanghai spans 1318 km and cost 32 billion USD. It operates at an average speed of 180 MPH. The California HSR plan is considerably shorter, considerably slower, and would cost over twice as much.
That’s good and well, but remember that China has much lower labor costs, and fewer environmental protections (CEQA). I don’t think the low price of Chinese rail should deter HSR in California.
It would probably have a fraction of the casualties and environmental impacts in construction though. China has different standards to the modern world.
Well, the difference is that China has useful high speed rail and California does not.
That's why California has reason to waster few billions then abandon the whole project. Great California republic!