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The estimated cost of building the California High Speed Railroad Project (CHSRP) is $45 billion.  However, when the financing charges are included, the total cost, assuming 30 year financing, is approximately $82 billion.  This assumes the project comes in on time and within budget, which would be a minor miracle.  The CHSRP will be approximately 800 miles.  Assuming the estimated project costs are achieved, the cost per mile will average approximately $103 million.  Applying the same rate for a New York to Chicago line, which would be approximately 900 miles, the cost would be approximately $93 billion.  If a New York to Chicago line could be built along existing right-of-ways, the cost could be less.  I have no idea what it might be, but if the average cost per mile could be cut in half, the cost would be $46.5 billion. Using the numbers shown in Amtrak's 2009 Financial Report, the cost of upgrading the NEC for high speed service was approximately $16 million per mile.  This includes purchase of the Acela train sets. Applying this number to a New York to Chicago route, financed over 30 years, the cost of the project would be a bit more than $26 billion.   The Acela operations cover their operating costs.  But they do not cover the capital costs, which means the taxpayers are stuck with most of the capital costs.  Given the current federal debt of $14.1 trillion, coupled with more than $72 trillion in unfunded liabilities, how would a high speed railroad between New York and Chicago be funded?  Or maybe a better question is what would justifying laying the cost of the project on the already burden backs of the taxpayers?
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