Re. the Merced stop - I just realized (using all my fingers and a few toes) that at 120 mph it's only 1/2 hour from Merced to Fresno. So if Sacramento trains just need to make a connection, there's no non-local need for a Merced station - run on down to Fresno and connect there. Leave room for 5 or 6 tracks in the Fresno station to handle potential connections. And make the Merced-Fresno r/w wide enough for 3 or 4 tracks even if only building 2 initially. Again, too late, but it would be a nice idea.