Predictable, of course, but still a pity. High-speed rail is a great alternative to air travel, at least under some circumstances. Long, narrow California should be one of those cases.

The economies of the two places vary a lot, making direct comparisons challenging, but Japan might provide some useful information:

* Shinkansen travel is not cheaper than air travel, at least in comparison with most airlines' economy class seats. Some of the low-fare domestic airlines like Air-Do are considerably cheaper.

* But until you start looking at the longest trips (say, Tokyo to Hokkaido or even to Morioka or Sendai), the train's not much slower in terms of total curb-to-curb time. What the plane gains with its faster speed is lost at boarding (especially) and upon arrival, where dealing with airport nonsense and security theater adds so much wasted time. With the train, you just walk up to the platform and board. At the other end, you just grab your baggage (right there in the car you rode in) and go.

* You have much more room, especially legroom, on the train, and it's smoother and quieter. You will absolutely arrive more relaxed with the shinkansen. Yes, there's even more room in airline Business Class or First Class, but while I greatly prefer (and most always choose) either of those for international travel, paying anywhere between three and ten times as much for a 90 minute domestic flight is ridiculous.

* Another comfort/convenience advantage for the shinkansen is that you don't have to belt in and you can get up wand stretch your legs any time you like. I particularly appreciate this because I get antsy when I have to sit in the same spot for too long.

The use case for high-speed rail is harder to make in the US, but it may have its place even in a nation that doesn't rely of rail travel for people much. Making a huge boondoggle out of it sure doesn't help, though.