"Yah, nother gov. run mess,, but hopefully will be the more the future in travel."

"Train efficiency needs a lot of upgrading and can be done. " 

I thought I addressed the current problems with trains.... or..

Maybe its just the instant gratification, "I want it now,, and can't forsee anything different."

Amtrack is Gov. subsidized so they are guarenteed their money whether productive or not. There is zero incentive for real improvement.

Second problem is lack of competition.  BNSF is pretty big,, little competition, even less incentive for improvements.  IF all the tracks,, (like the US highway system) were owned (or at least managed) by both FED-State, and Rail Companies had to compete with other rail companies train travel would be much more competetive.  Switch yards could be private but the actual rain lines would be "community property",, they would ramp up their ability to compete.  

Yes, Train travel by Car is very popular in Europe, so is intermodal freight. 

Of course there would be some downside,  the road infrastructure would suffer as there would be less use, state and National wide.