While I agree that more high-speed rail would be amazing in the US as a viable transit option, a lot of the calculus around efficiency of it rests on it being exempt from the likes of TSA. TSA has been making their way into train stations for a few years now:<p>2013: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;reason.com&#x2F;archives&#x2F;2013&#x2F;08&#x2F;08&#x2F;tsa-to-ruin-train-travel-now-too" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;reason.com&#x2F;archives&#x2F;2013&#x2F;08&#x2F;08&#x2F;tsa-to-ruin-train-trav...</a><p>2015: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.infowars.com&#x2F;tsa-airport-style-searches-on-all-amtrak-trains&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.infowars.com&#x2F;tsa-airport-style-searches-on-all-am...</a>