>>1196788I'd argue that Metro North, LIRR, New Haven and NJtransit are really good town connecting Commuter Rail networks, but because of the existence of NYC they all happen to end/start there.
A bad Commuter Rail systems would be like the Rail Runner and the Sounder. But even then they aren't that bad, because they are slowly bringing rail systems back to places that are growing and need them.
What is bad is when a light rail system is built to substitute for a proper commuter rail network. See any city in Texas...