The biggest problem with rail in America is branding. Literally, who does it appeal to?
There are two demographics American Rail can lean into: comfort people or busy people. personally I love amtrak because there's always a nice area to relax and work. its like having 16 hours to spend in a cafe to chill and focus on my work backlog while I'm traveling and enjoying a nice view. Its a unique pull since many are now working remotely
structure it as a trendy way to travel rather than the way other countries see it as a way to quickly get from A to B. it's the best bet if American rail refuses to update the infrastructure imo. Put whoever was in charge of the McCafe rebrand in charge of rebranding Amtrak and you'll see improvements. Good rail dependence always starts as a luxury service and improves from there as a commuter service
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/california-high-speed-rail-interior-design/ 