Not so friendly reminder that musk specifically came up with, and pushed, for hyperloop knowing that it would never be made, as an effort to stop the development of highspeed rail in America and shift all political discussions of it because "something better is around the corner":
As I’ve written in my book, Musk admitted to his biographer Ashlee Vance that Hyperloop was all about trying to get legislators to cancel plans for high-speed rail in California—even though he had no plans to build it. Several years ago, Musk said that public transit was “a pain in the ass” where you were surrounded by strangers, including possible serial killers, to justify his opposition.
Also: 2024 update, the total length of China's high-speed rail tracks has now reached well over 45,000 km, or 28,000 miles, by the end of 2023.
They are additionally five years ahead of schedule and expect to double the total number within ten years. And, before someone inevitably complains about "how expensive it is", they are turning over a net-profit of over $600M USD a year.
I don't think it's unreasonable to look at what they're doing right, nor does it mean we have to condone the situation there in its entirety.
I for one am in awe they built enough high speed rail to circle the earth. The flip side of that coin is the shame I feel at our own progress in the meantime. The interstate system is so gross and inefficient. 90 out of a hundred trucks you see could have been on a train, should be.
And I'm sorry but if you find yourself driving on the interstate on a regular basis you're doing it wrong. I've heard all the best excuses. It's an insane way to live, and it's straight up ruining our planet.
I certainly don't advocate adopting China's way of being lock stock and barrel, but they're doing what we cannot. Too many apartments and trains. Sounds like awful problems to have.
I live in Russia, so don't really know anything about both USA and China.
But the part about China would be also true for you. We can't say what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong, that's the problem.
That said, yes, for logistics trains are just better.