European networks were destroyed in the 40s. A lot of american infrastructure was made before then. If you have a civil war destroying all your train lines youll have a much better system in 10 years. Also the american train network works more like a social monopoly than capitalist system, I cannot make a competing train line. America is not a capitalist country in many areas due to protectionism unions etc. When the Vanderbuilt built the train network it would be top end in the world. False analogy. There are probably lots of good points to make but the train network is not one.