Passenger rail is subsidized where it does the most good (mainly the Northeast US) and ignored where it won't. Rail traffic from CA (or WA or OR) to the east h

Passenger rail is subsidized where it does the most good (mainly the Northeast US) and ignored where it won't. Rail traffic from CA (or WA or OR) to the east has to deal with this insignificant barrier also known as the Rocky mountain range. Passes through the Rockies are frequently as high as 4000 feet and feature exciting twists and turns. It isn't impassible to rail, but it doesn't lend itself to the type of high speed rail that can compete with air travel.