Earlier this year, I took a VIA rail train from Toronto to Montreal. The car was clean, spacious and the ride was quiet. It takes four hours to make the trip as opposed to nine by car but its one of those instances were riding the train really makes you look forward to the journey as well as arrival at the destination. My only beef was with the baggage handling fee on the return portion of the trip which was outrageous that I didn't bother to have my baggage checked in. For journeys of between two and five hours, train is the way to go.
No wonder the idots are losing money. I recently took the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Fukuoka. The distance is about the same as Washington to Orlando, around 750 miles. The fare was just over $200. Is that too high? It's hard to compare the two services (I don't think Amtrack has trains doing 300 kmph) but $17.10 is definately a money loser.