The article makes it seem like politics are the only problem. Another problem is that this would be very very expensive. Magnetic levitation train tracks are al

The article makes it seem like politics are the only problem. Another problem is that this would be very very expensive. Magnetic levitation train tracks are already expensive. How much is it going to cost to build a vacuum tunnel with some sort of magnetic propulsion system built into the walls of it, not to mention the supporting infrastructure (vacuum pumps, power distribution, safety exits, maintenance tunnels)? Probably not achievable with the current cost of labor and parts (and all the overbilling happening everywhere). Then there's the danger. What if an earthquake happens? What if the tunnels leak and air or water seeps in? What if your magnetic stabilization system fails for a fraction of a second and your train floating at 14000MPH grazes against the sides of the tunnel? If an accident happened in one of those tunnels, it could easily kill everyone onboard, and disable the tunnel for months. It's a really nice and futuristic idea, the kind that would once again make the world a smaller place (commuting from SF to NY for work, anyone?), but it probably won't happen until we can really prove such a thing is safe, and we change from capitalism to an economical model where we build things like this because, you know, they're good for humanity as a whole. Personally I think a project like this would be good for the American economy, but then so would massive investment in solar power plants. Instead you guys gave fat checks to the banks.