I don't see how anyone sees the government as more trustworthy in this process. The people paying these companies outrageous sums are the ones taking campaign

I don't see how anyone sees the government as more trustworthy in this process. The people paying these companies outrageous sums are the ones taking campaign donations from those companies. The people that decide that the high speed rail which needs to stop at every town along the route (and that the route needs to include all their towns) are -- again -- the politicians. At every turn politicians stick their noses into the workings of infrastructure projects. Quality and cost finish well behind kickbacks to the politician and largesse to their supporters.