Why can't the railroads and transportation companies create a consortium to rebuild the national rail infrastructure that uses a cheap alternative to petroleum and so competes with the airline industry? Just imagine zipping across the country at 800 or more MPH and going to New York from Los Angeles in 5-6 hours, by train, perhaps in a private cabin. As the world runs out of cheap petroleum over the next 50 years, the only other alternative to flying is rail unless some scientists invent a "Star Trek" type of teleporter or George Jetson provides us with a practical flying car.