[dwg]

I hope trains become more popular, and train travel is reinvigorated in the U.S!

Not making any judgements, but just for comparison, here is a Japan train explorer: https://roote.ekispert.net/rmap/fullscreen.

For context, Japan is roughly the size of California.

[ArtemZ]

I just checked how much it will cost me to travel to Boston, MA from Cleveland, OH.

Pretty straightforward route. 11 hours of travel and 172$ per seat in couch vagon. Considering that I wanted to take my whole family to this trip it just doesn't make sense to go by train. Car is going to be faster and cheaper even considering parking fees in Boston.

[dwg]

Yep, it often makes more sense to go by car (especially when you can fill your car up), or you want to use your car at the destination (though renting is an option here).

Sometimes going by train is just more pleasant. Kids don't need to be strapped into carseats, repeatedly asking "are we there yet?" You can go to the bathroom or stretch your legs any time. You can do other things, such as enjoy the scenery or read a book. Also, last time I checked, trains are lot safer than cars. There is no traffic. Finally, you don't have to drive!

If you like, you might consider soft factors in addition to the fare :)

[SoftTalker]

The USA is too big. Trains will never compete with air travel except maybe in regional service.

[lmm]

China is a similar size but trains are very competitive there.

I think the part that's missing is good urban transit systems. A long distance train loses most of its advantages if you have to hire a car at the end of it.

[objektif]

Compete in terms of what? Spending at least 5 extra hours before and after you travel in order to just get stuffed inside a tube and get treated like sht?

[sofixa]

High Speed Rail doesn't need to cover the country end to end, because most of the travel isn't end to end. There are plenty of "regional" services that can be done that will already remove millions of other worse trips (by car or plane) and will be a net benefit for everyone and everything (saving people time, generating revenue, reducing pollution and noise, etc. etc).