As the years rolled on, passenger trains became faster, safer, and more comfortable. In the 50 years between 1865 and 1916, the American rail network grew from 35,000 miles to more than 250,000 miles.

The U.S. has the most railroad tracks of any country. And yet we’re not known for our passenger trains. Freight trains, on the other hand, are still widely used. So why can’t passenger trains be more ...