AMTRAK hasn’t ever shown a tendency to make a profit beyond what you’d consider ‘marginal’....so now we think a high-speed train will turn a profit? Something just doesn’t click here.
AMTRAK probably doesn’t make a profit, just as the post office doesn’t. I’d expect that certain high density corridors may well make a profit or at least could if managed properly, just as UPS and FDX make profits at mail delivery. (Though given the footprint of rail and rights of way some state or local government intervention is likely)
They’ll just not make a profit a lot faster.