Short line inter urban rail was a widespread convenience all around the country until after WWII, when it was essentially destroyed by a concerted campaign by the lobbyists for rubber tires and cars and concrete road construction.
I always thought the impetus for the Interstate Highway system, was Eisenhower’s experience seeing the German Autobahns and realizing that Interstates were a good way to move troops around.
GM Truck and BUS contributed to IU rail’s demise.
Buses are still conceptually better than rail as they are less constrained to route.