...which means more room to put a few railroads in. Currently in the UK there is talk of a high speed rail link from London to what Londoner's call 'the North'

...which means more room to put a few railroads in. Currently in the UK there is talk of a high speed rail link from London to what Londoner's call 'the North'. Many, many houses will have to be demolished to put this line in. The cost of buying those properties - to demolish them - is fairly cost prohibitive, plus people like their homes so it is politically awkward. Thus population density/country size cuts both ways. Furthermore, sometimes it can be advantageous to have a longer journey by train than a shorter journey by plane. When I was working in Glasgow I would take the overnight sleeper train, to arrive for the start of the working day having 'slept' on the train. The alternative taxis and planes and hotel stay was a lot more tiring than the train, even with that stop at Crewe where they change the rolling stock around, waking everyone.