"I never suggested eliminating Amtrak service but they do need to do something about the routes that have out of sight losses...."
I'm unsure how much Amtrak pays railroad companies to utilize their trackage rights, but I imagine it's quite high (particularly on the East coast, where rail rates are higher than the West coast).
Amtrak (via the Federal Government) could purchase land at some agreeable level above market value (via "eminent domain") in order to reduce leasing fees, etc normally associated with using existing track (particularly UPRR, BNSF, CSX, etc track).
"...The reason high speed rail is so successful in China is the number of passengers that use it."
And given the population centers are clustered along the eastern half of China, it makes sense to develop such as system. FYI, prior to 1990 China was still using old railroad lines set up right after the end of World War 2.
Our network is older..and is more established (and in better condition) than the Chinese.
Keep in mind China could build such a network since the State has jurisdiction over how industry (in general) should operate. Communist bureaucrats do not consider land ownership a right, and therefore the need to expropriate funds/litigate claims in order to build such a network is eliminated...unfortunately.
Ordinary
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
