Very inefficient and very political. Inefficient because of all of the politics involved.

IMO, every set of tracks ought to be a double. One set of tracks going North or East and the other going South or West, etc. Open that sucker up for competetion. Tax the railroads based on use and use the tax dollars to perform maitenance. Maintain all rails to have a 50 mph speed rating. This would create a much more efficient system.