China has had its share of high-profile failures (and successes) of late, but a recent high-speed rail crash has shaken the people's confidence more than past mishaps.
America's very successful freight train system will have to make some compromises to accommodate high-speed rail, but those needn't be the end of the world.
In the late 1980s, both Texas and Spain proposed high-speed rail systems: Texas walked away from the idea, while Spain leapt in a little too exuberantly.
While paying for its hefty infrastructure costs may be ambitious, many high-speed rail systems cover their operating costs and even turn a small operating profit.