A decision will have to made(whether willfully or by inertia) whether to build a true HSR or just a higher speed railway. I have to agree that even 110 mph would be a tremendous improvement over what we have now and would attract some very solid patronage.

It seems to me that the choice of the Tehachapis over the Grapevine would indicate that a higher speed railroad is what California will end up with, at least in the interim, rather than a system that can compete directly with SF-LA flights. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as intermediate points would get service. I just find the prospect of a brand new rail alignment very appealing - that's why I like the Grapevine option. Think of all the free advertising when those bored drivers on I-5 watch passenger trains zoom past them.

But it certainly seems to me that if the HSR agency is committed to routing thru the Tehapchapis that at least some overture should be made to the freight railroads to see if a general upgrade benefitting all parties could be possible.