No, you clearly DON'T understand the consequences of the extra weight. That being: the much-heavier freight trains need stronger railbeds, bridges, etc...and simply cannot go as fast. A passenger train might take a section of track at 80MPH...where a freight on the same stretch might have to take it at 50 or slower to avoid damaging the track, or even risking a derail. The weight also requires more fuel...to double the speed, you need to-at least-quadruple the power. (Also, freight trains are much less streamlined than passenger trains.) Running high-speed freight trains would require tearing up and replacing every foot of rail they run on! (There are over 100,000 miles of rail that would have to be replaced.)
Here is something to ponder: how much space would a 2-mile-long freight train need to stop from 140MPH? Remember: doubling the speed will roughly quadruple the stopping distance.
I imagine there was a Jaraxle standing by spouting the same things during the construction of the Erie Canal. You were probably giddy in Florida as we failed several times to launch rockets into space. You were probably cheering as people fell into the wet concrete at the site of the Hoover Dam. As I understand it, work ceased on the Panama Canal due to disease. Were you happy about that too?
I understand there are technological challenges. Apparently, if you're any indication, imagination is in short supply too.
You're up against physics. Again: high-speed freight trains will require tearing up and replacing ALL railways (and in some places, it simply cannot be done due to the available space), and will, once more, burn ENORMOUS amounts of fuel. (Wind resistance increases by the square of the speed: 100MPH had 4x the drag as 50MPH!)
[qupte]What I don't understand is the resistance to what could be a magic bullet solution to moving our goods to the world's markets faster, moving their goods to Target's shelves sooner, reducing pollution, allowing e-commerce to clear the next obvious hurdle of time in transit to receive product, reducing stress on our interestates and bridges, etc...[/quote]
Because I actually understand the subject and am familiar with basic physics...you do not and are not. Freight trains cannot run on pixie dust and unicorn flatulence.