It just ran on the west coast. As to the realism of the train, tracks, etc., I won't even go into the multitudinous details there. Enjoy it as a ground based science fiction adventure.
A few commnets:
The train seemed to be based on the Amtrak California cars with a lavish interior and aerodynamic front end. Doors looked a little like somebody had seen the Shinkansen.
Baggage car on a high speed train???
Nice ballasted single track?? Real will most likely be double track and concrete based.
No source of power. No diesel exhaust, no engine, no overhead electric wire, no third rail.
Curves not possible for the speeds.
Tunnel looks like a subway box structure.
Brake issues completely impossible.
Did we get hints of a road grade crossing at one point??
Somebody must have at least read some of the California High Speed Train web site.
200 mph speed mentioned: 220 mph is CAHST max speed.
3 hours SF to LA: 2 hr 42 min frequently mentioned as a legislative directive.
$80 billion! Maybe in the range of the real.
Construction time: Regardless of what is on the official schedule, I would be inclined to say that anything less than 15 years from now would be incredibly optimistic.
Japanese participation is very reasonable to expect given that they:
1. have money to invest
2. have the largest in mileage, longest time in operation and highest passenger volume high speed rail system in the world. They also in all this time had no fatalities and only one derailment and that one in an earthquake.
) and the new high speed line was single track! The absurdities just got worse from there...
