Don't hate on Amtrak, they have been beaten to pulp by lack of interest and investment but still are making meaningful improvements every year.

One of the biggest issue is that rail was privatised way back when and the cargo rail got the ownership of the tracks. This just means that products, patient as they are get priority.

The North East corridor is getting tunnels rebuilt, added frequency. North Carolina has funded a major rail extension and so on. It's very slow but it might be necessary for it be that way to not attract attention from the GOP. Slow incremental gains until it reaches escape velocity.

It shouldn't be that way but Amtrak is doing well considering how little help they've gotten.