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Huge difference between US and European rail: in the US freight companies own the rail lines and the commuter rail rents them. This has two implications. First, rails are designed not for high-speed passenger trains but for massive lumbering cargo trains that can't go much faster than 50mph. Second, it means passenger rail has the lowest priority so it can be stopped and made to wait at any time as determined by the actual rail owners.

Then there's also the last mile problem in that very very few cities in America are actual walkable the way European ones are. For a few years I had to commute to Chicago, and that was awesome. I could take the train in, then walk to a metro station and be on my way. But for most destinations, you'll need to drive to and from the train station, so what's the point?