Blurred vision of the wall is less of a problem in subways - simply because it is too dark to see the rapid motion anyway. But they are, as you point out, still claustrophobic. I'm sure they too discourage ridership if subway sections are very long, such as when BART is more like an electrified suburban railway, rather than a local urban transit. Although I am convinced they themselves don't realize it, BART actually is a hybrid of the two.

People will put up with with short local trips in the claustrophobic subway, but you will never get away with it for 45 - 60 minute rides out to the suburbs. This effect is readily apparent on the new Airport Extension, as suburban ridership on that mostly cut and cover subway line is flatly pathetic - might as well run non-stop to the airport.

Surface operation of BART outside of the inner city, is imperative to avoid discouraging ridership. This of course, would be much more so for long haul passenger services of any sort. Besides, the cost of surface construction, will be much less than trenches, which costs nearly as much as "cut and cover" subway anyhow. Cut and cover subway is the most common type, as bored subway costs are usually astronomical. Even the "Transbay Tube" construction used an essentially cut and cover method - just under water.

Political opposition to surface operation (read - shared trackage with CalTrain) simply must be overcome; or there will be not be any point in building, as it will bankrupt us to build it and no one will ride anyhow. But I believe with true political leadership, that it is quite do-able.

If true political leadership (ie. Statesmanship) is no longer possible, then we are done as a civilization - Trains (and trucks and cars and airplanes) will then eventually become only a faint memory of the once civilized and humane.

OPB