The difference is:

The old stuff was paid for by railroad companies with money you gave willingly in payment for services. Their external goal was to be attractive. Their internal goal is to get the most bang for the buck. Given two decent, attractive designs, one twice the price, they will choose the cheaper.

The new stuff was paid for by governments with money they took from you against your will. Their external goal is to win design competitions. Their internal goal is to spend as much money as possible. Given two designs, one twice the price, they will choose the more expensive.

One plays to capitalism's strength, the other to socialism's weakness.

And you would tell me this has no effect on the design of the place, that a private railroad company would build the same station? I think NOT.

America seems to have the best approach. Don't build the damn things. The stations you see in the California HSR proposals are a pipe dream. They would rather promote crystal-palace stations than a Grapevine base tunnel, because tunnels don't look cool. This has resulted in an HSR plan which is basically insane, and that has chilled all support for it.