[mulcahey]

"Admits"?

This is phrased as if it is some bombshell, when it seems this was obvious from the beginning. Elon's been a critic of the CA High Speed Rail project for nearly a decade! [0] The literal whitepaper that announced the Hyperloop concept contrasts itself to the CA Rail project on the damn first page! [1] He's basically been screaming for everyone to aim higher instead of accepting mediocrity even relative to what already exists across the pond.

The Hyperloop project itself was proposed clearly and explicitly to contrast with the CA rail project, suggesting "maybe this is what we could do if only we tried!" In practically all the public appearances about this project (and in explanations for why he founded SpaceX) he's been clear and repetitive in stating that he wants to see inspiring things get built, if for no other reason than for us to want to get out of bed in the morning.

Of course Musk desired the CA rail project not to be built. And of course he didn't intend to build the Hyperloop himself. He'd been plenty explicit about that as well -- it's the explanation for why this was a paper and not a 5th company he's CEO of today.

[0] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/376439054209781761 [1] https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/blog_images/hyperl...