mass transit and inter-state trains don't work in the us for a couple of reasons. 1- blacks. if you have ever had to take light rail or bus to get to work, you would instantly understand why the average non-black utterly loathes using public transit. mass transit is already annoying, inconvenient, and often slow, but when you add in a certain number of ghetto blacks it becomes a certified nightmare. it's crowded, they're loud, often aggressive, will get into fights with each other, and sometimes get high or even piss right there next to you. it's gross, frustrating, and dangerous. 2- we're too spread out. outside of the upper north east, the large population centers are too far apart. taking a train to go from chicago to phoenix would be a waste of time compared to flying, and shorter hops could be done by car for not much more money, and more convenience. nearly half the population lives in rural areas, and it wouldn't be cost effective to connect all those small towns with commuter rail. 3-corruption and inefficiency. the one rail company the us is owned and run by the government, and it loses money every year. it's never paid for itself. whenever a new rail project is tried, like the aborted high speed rail thing in california, it not only is never completed, but it become a money pit where politicians funnel money to friendly people who kick back a cut of the funds, then pocket most of the rest. meanwhile environmental groups and property owners who might get their land taken tie the project up in court cases. no one really wants it, it wouldn't work because of geography and population distribution, and the people involved are corrupt and stupid.
United States