Ferrovie dello Stato, Italy's national railway company, is aiming to expand its high-speed rail services in the U.S., a country traditionally resistant to fast trains. The U.S. has long relied on air travel for connecting major cities due to its vast distances, with road traffic primarily focused on freight.

However, Italy’s railway company is exploring new investments in the U.S., which could align with the American policy of bringing certain industries back home. The first step could involve restructuring its U.S. division, FS International, which has been inactive for some time, in order to accelerate its entry into the American high-speed rail market.

Ferrovie dello Stato is considering establishing offices in Florida and Washington, D.C. to get closer to U.S. regulatory bodies. The goal is to access the billions of dollars that the U.S. government may allocate for high-speed rail projects. One potential route is the New York-Washington corridor, while in Florida, the Miami-Orlando route is being targeted. However, winning contracts to operate the service will be challenging, as the U.S. will retain control over the rail network, in line with the White House’s economic policy. While the construction of high-speed rail lines would be funded by the U.S., managing the high-speed services could be a valuable opportunity. Ferrovie dello Stato currently has a small office in New York, which may be shut down, while the Miami office could also serve as a base for the Houston-Dallas project.

Currently, there is no true high-speed rail in the U.S. The closest service is the Amtrak Acela, which reaches speeds of 150 mph on just 50 miles of its 450-mile network. California’s high-speed rail projects have faced significant challenges due to high construction costs.

An analysis of U.S. railway development since the 1800s shows that railroads played a crucial role in transforming the country into the world's largest economic power, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. By the late 19th century, thousands of miles of new rail lines were built to integrate the states and make rail transport the most efficient logistics mode. However, in the early 20th century, demand shifted to road and air transport. Today, the U.S. has one of the largest railway networks globally, spanning 87,000 miles, but its density and coverage are much lower compared to Europe or China.