the math in this article is wrong, they are comparing the "capacity" of the CHSR. There is no way the CHSR is going to be operating at capacity. Operating at 10% is a more likely scenario. Moreover, direct from LA to SF is a feature, not a bug. I might take the CHSR IF it only went between the two cities, having extra stops makes it LESS likely that I will use it (currently at zero likelihood; I'd rather just take a plane).