My main beef is that American cab ends are so miserably designed - no effort is made to improve their styling because I assume they want the flexibility in the consist so that cabs are the same whether in the middle of the train or being used as the cab at the ends. Still though, in North America at least GOTransit and Metrolink in LA have made at least an effort to make them more stylish. Nowhere close to how good rolling stock looks oversees though.
Also of interest is whether or not American agencies will continue to spec stainless steel carbodies post-FRA rolling stock waiver/reg reform. The new reg's may allow painted aluminum in lieu of the heavier and more expensive to procure and more expensive energy costs of stainless steel. I for one would love to see less stainless steel in this country. I know a lot of people like it, and in situations where vandalism is a real concern like subway rolling stock it makes sense, but there's just no comparison to seeing the rainbow of paint schemes you witness oversees and experiencing the banal sterile carbodies here, and when paired with lame styling is even more uninspiring.
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