The current HSR plan is incredible stupid, expensive, and already over budget & behind schedule.
The train between SF and LA is a 50 year project. At the moment they should focus on buying the right of way and doing the EIS for the the entire line. The focus should be on the following regional HSR.
1. LA-LV
2. LA-SD
3. LA-Bakersfield 3a. SF-Oakland-Sacramento
As population expands and the rail is actually used, then the line can be extended to other cities.
At the current cost, it is already the world’s most expensive rail program on a per mile basis, by a wide margin. It will likely be unsustainable and certainly won’t make a profit (maybe not even on a operating basis – not paying back debt).
But this project is about political power even if the money would be better spent on regional rail, like a major rail system out of LAX.