It's an upgraded corridor, there's only so much you can do with it. In some places (around NYC) it has little capacity to spare. What's needed is a new dedicated high-speed line. The demand is there.
The demand is there, unfortunately NIMBYs stall everything from getting anything done.
NIMBYs are not the main cause why there is no real high speed rail in the USA.
The Tea Party controls the House of Representatives. They would always fight against appropriating money for High-Speed Rail.
You can win lots of votes in the US by playing to be a fiscal conservative, talking against China/France (both big High-Speed Rail nations) and promising to support the American Dream (America is a Car-only nation).
High-Speed Rail has no future in the US. It is considered to be socialism.
The concept of High-Speed Rail does not go together with American Values when it comes to transportation.
1) High-Speed Rail is a huge upfront investment (you need federal money and federal money is controlled by the Tea Party; a liberal State cannot afford to cover the costs by itself)
2) You need to source lots of non-American made technology, maybe even from China (a no go)
3) High-Speed Rail is a form of public transportation; America (ex NYC) is all about individual transportation ("I go to any place, any time I want to"); A classical line from Fox News or Talk Radio:
"People who take trains are poor, they cannot afford a car, but they expect the Government pay for Rail so they can have a free ride. All while the traditional American family has to suffer high gas prices at the pump. High-Speed Rail is socialism. You know where it comes from: Yes, France and China! If the leader of the American Communist Party - Comrade Barack Hussein Obama - invests even one penny into High-Speed Rail, we will shut down the Government. Here is a list of Congressmen, who support High-Speed Rail. Call or write them. Tell them to get the f*** out of Washington! Stay Tuned! After the break - Hear from our contributors Ann Coulter and Michelle Bachmann, what their take is on the great Socialist Dream, called High-Speed Rail!"