I agree - Although if I were in charge I would push to increase the gauge size to carry wider payloads, create hub terminals in major cities to encourage common freight and allow mixed passenger/freight trains between hub cities.
The hope would be to increase the rail size/weight capacity, reduce commercial road traffic to local delivery, provide a cheap (but less convenient) travel option for individuals.
Could run a pilot program between a handful of industrial cities (do we have any of those anymore?). See if the concept is viable and to what degree/metro size works.
I truly envy what they have in Japan for rail transportation.