With gas prices nowadays, why is US rail travel still so inconvenient?

[Jolt]

Wow, you can leave DURING THE DAY? You actually have great service...

I would have to drive three hours and make a connection at about 3 a.m.

If what we have here is "great service", that is pretty sad!! The only place where I would consider it "great service" is the Northeast Corridor line (Boston to VA). NoNo, that must be the one you're referring to with the ridiculous prices--they are rather high on that route. Some of the others in NE seem fairly reasonable, it's just that the schedules suck!! Your issue with Amtrak messing up your commuter train sounds like our issue here with CSX (freight company) messing up ours in and out of Worcester (and limiting service in and out of Worcester to boot)...it is a pain in the butt. Stuff like this sure isn't helping the energy situation--I think we should all write letters!