4 ms·

There are two sets of huge mountains in the way: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Coast_Ranges https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Coast_Ranges Th

There are two sets of huge mountains in the way: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Coast_Ranges https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Coast_Ranges That's the core issue. CHSRA never had a credible funded plan for building either crossing, and instead chose to tackle the easy part in the Central Valley first. Unfortunately, HSR in the Central Valley is effectively useless without a mountain crossing at at least one end.

jandrese 7y ago
Giant mountain ranges didn't stop the Shinkansen.
- m4rtink 7y ago
  Or all the 30 - 60 long base tunnels finished or under construction in Switzerland and Austria going under the Alps.
- magduf 7y ago
  Japan doesn't have the utterly broken politics and lack of interest in building infrastructure that the USA has.
Gibbon1 7y ago
The Pacheco Tunnel already goes through the same section of the Diablo Range they are planning to run one of the tunnels. That was built in the 1960's to carry water from the San Luis San Luis Reservoir to Santa Clara County.