What people also forget is the maintenance required which no one seems to want to pay for and get cut after a while.
We just a major derailment accident (cargo train) in the Gotthard-Basistunnel forcing it closed for at least a week. [1] This even though it is one of the most maintained parts of the infrastructure and cost around 30 million a year in maintenance. A 57 km tunnel of non-high speed rail. I can only imagine the costs to maintain a high-speed rail line and make sure it is safe.
We just a major derailment accident (cargo train) in the Gotthard-Basistunnel forcing it closed for at least a week. [1] This even though it is one of the most maintained parts of the infrastructure and cost around 30 million a year in maintenance. A 57 km tunnel of non-high speed rail. I can only imagine the costs to maintain a high-speed rail line and make sure it is safe.
[1] https://old.reddit.com/r/Switzerland/comments/15o3y1l/train_...