Technology
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I wonder if research into sonic boom physics could translate over to high speed aerodynamics generally, to include the useful models for high speed trains.
Lack of high speed rail isn’t caused by lack of knowledge about how to do it. High speed rail exists in some places, just not the US.
Because the USA is 2892 miles wide. Even a 285 mph bullet train, which is the fastest train in the world, would take 10 hours to cross the United States, and that's at absolute max speed, with no stops, which isn't how trains operate. Realistically it would take a few days to cross the United States, as opposed to 5 hours in an airplane, or a couple of hours in a hypersonic jet. Trains are great, especially for more relaxed travel, or moving lots of goods, but they're not a final solution for countries this size.
Interesting thought; I'd hope so. Maybe some material physics/chemistry research that makes some stuff cheaper for trains (I'm not an engineer so totally out of my depth here).
Efficient High-speed rails are already possible and have been since the 70s, it's not a lack of science that stops them from being a thing, it's a lack of desire from government officials being paid by private interests to do things less efficiently because people are getting paid.