I've been working in Asia these past 2 weeks

[DFW]

43. Here in Europe, fast trains are THE preferred means of intercity travel

I haven't taken a plane between Brussels and Düsseldorf in probably 15 years or more. I used to sometimes take the commuter plane because it took only 35 minutes, and the train between Köln and Brussels used to take 3 hours, plus the extra half hour from Köln on to Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf to Frankfurt used to take almost 3 hours as well.

Now, the run from Köln to Brussels takes only an hour an 47 minutes, and Köln-Frankfurt just 80 minutes. Düsseldorf to Paris has been reduced to under 4 hours. It isn't worth the hassle of flying any more, as the CDG airport is far from the city, and traffic in Paris is so crazy that it makes more sense to take the train the whole way unless the half hour saved is so extremely vital. The nonstop Paris-Brussels run has now also been reduced from 3 hours to 80 minutes.

Chris Christie was right that it would cost a fortune to upgrade our rail infrastructure. He is wrong to say it isn't worth it. Few things would be more worthwhile.