Here are links to a couple of interesting CNN articles about High Speed Rail in the USA. Hopefully, this information will lead to a better informed discussion of the topic.
U.S. high-speed rail 'myths' debunked
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/13/high.speed.rail.fact.check/index.html?iref=allsearch
Riled about rail: Why all the anger over high speed trains?
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/21/harrod.high.speed.rail.trains/index.html?hpt=T2