Yes, with better funding we can get more newer equipment faster and replace units lost to accidents. But when they are given too much money, we see silly things like Acela with only 5 revenue cars (vs 16 on Shinkansen) with no way to expand - despite the demand.
Interesting re-write of history to make a point eh?
The reason that Acelas are the way they are and the number is just 20 is not because there was too much money but there was too little. The project depended on getting a loan from the Canadians even to get what we got. Not because they were overflowing in money and got whatever they wished. So in some sense we were completely beholden to the Canadians in the way of deciding what we could have. Of course add to it Amtrak's endless changing of requirements and Barb the great and all that, and you get what you get, the 4 extra inches and all.
And finally, despite the political climate, Amtrak has been able to buy 40 new sleepers, 40 new diners, and 40 new baggage cars - because they are replacing cars that are truly falling apart.
BTW, what 40 Diner, 40 Sleepers and 40 Baggage cars are you talking about? The original numbers are 25 each Diner, Sleeper, Bag-Dorm, not 40. According to the original order hey could become 40 if they find the money to exercise the options. In addition there are 55 more Baggage cars which could become 80 if options are exercised to the fullest.
Since the original order the Bag-Dorm/Baggage mix has been changed converting 15 Bag-Dorm orders to pure Baggage, with Bag-Dorms reduced to 10 and Baggage increased to 70 AFAIR.
Also the political climate in which the order was placed was much less hostile to Amtrak than it is now.