[thematrixturtle]

As a reference point for just how expensive, the Caltrain electrification project in SF is currently estimated at $2.44 billion dollars for 82 km of track, and still climbing. And this is for what's almost a best-case infrastructurally: flat land, few bridges or overpasses, etc. (But, admittedly, what just might the world's worst regulatory environment.)

[izacus]

American overinflated public infrastructure estimates aren't very useful for comparisons with Germany however.

With the numbers US planners are spewing out, we'd never have fast train network in Switzerland or high-speed rail across Italy, France or Spain.

[MagnumOpus]

$30 million per km (even if double-tracked) is exorbitant and can only be explained through entities who don't care spending Other People's Money.

The UK government estimates £600k/track-km, so even in the US with high wages it should be doable at $2 million/km per track if budgeted carefully...

[avn2109]

Wait till you learn about the subways in NYC which they dig for comfortably over a billion dollars per mile...

[Symbiote]

Midland Main Line in England "cost given as £1.3 billion pounds and also included three station modifications at Leicester, Derby and Sheffield. 422 single track miles of wiring was supposed to occur and a total of 120 bridges modified."

So roughly 340km of double-track for $1.5bn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Main_Line_railway_upgr...

[zbrozek]

It would be interesting to know what drives cost gaps versus other jurisdictions.