To the Editor:

“Making the Case for High-Speed Rail” (editorial, Aug. 13) presents a cogent review of the factors — including the inescapable need for federal financial support — that, so far, have eluded the powers that be and that need to be overcome to enable the United States to join countries like Japan and France in integrating high-speed rail into its transportation network.

High-speed rail viability, unsurprisingly, demands rigorous economic and demographic analysis and a steely determination to resist lurking political pressures for a piece of the action. An outstanding example of such pressure has been the persistent advocacy by political and local-booster voices in Nevada of a route partway (!) between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. May sound judgment prevail.

JOEL DARMSTADTER

Washington, Aug. 13, 2014

The writer is a senior fellow at Resources for the Future, specializing in energy and environmental issues.

To the Editor:

European and Japanese governments have explicit rail passenger programs because they know that public transport has public benefits beyond the direct services to riders. They are willing to identify and pay for such benefits as reduced pollution, reduced congestion and better safety. A result is stable plans, reliable funding and responsible management.