Sadly I think this is a harder problem to solve than it first appears. Given all the technical obstacles and solutions the defining factor for good rail service

Sadly I think this is a harder problem to solve than it first appears. Given all the technical obstacles and solutions the defining factor for good rail services in a country seems to be: "Does this country have a tradition of good rail services and take pride in them." Establishing that is hard. It seems really hard to make the technical solutions work without it. Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and others, trains are great. USA, UK, Australia, Canada - not always terrible but not in the same class. It's not talent. It's not wealth, I doubt the English Language is a hinderance here...