One reason is these days it takes so long in a crappy car on a crappy seat. Take the “light” rail from the Portland, OR airport out to Beaverton and it’s at least an hour. You have to stop a lot.
If the feds would leave rail alone you can’t convince me with existing lines and new ones small rail transport companies can’t work. I’d like to see a fast, limited stop rail in TN, priavtely owned. Memphis to Jackson to Nashville and break off to Knoxville and Chattanooga. Give me a bar and food car and I’m in. lol
Outside of commuters into NYC, what’s gained by taking a train? Is it faster? No. Is it cheaper? No. Is it easier? No. Is it more comfortable? No.
Address these problems and ridership will increase. In the glory days of US passenger trains, the trains were beautiful, there was a sense of style, inside and out. Now, they’re quite obviously government issue, a whole lot of gray. Nothing memorable about them, they’re slightly faster subway cars with upholstery, or a Grayhound bus on rails.