Exactly the reason why rolling stock gets priority over track upgrades - much more
political and much more votes in them.
After all doesn't it make such a wonderful picture for the paper, or some good footage
for TV, of a politician driving a brand new tilt train. Not only that, it can be driven
all over the state, guaranteeing widespread coverage in local media across the state.
But what news producer or newspaper editor is going to show a picture of politician with
some new railway tracks that don't look terribly different to the old ones (at least to
the untrained eye).
Also going back to freeways the improvement of a new dual carriageway freeway is
immediately obvious, when compared to an old two lane pot-holed road; with track
upgrades it is not immediately obvious.
(Sorry I watch far too many episodes of Frontline)