I wouldn't say it's a policy choice, the opposite. The rail system is privatised in the UK and yet still receives government subsidies. In addition, there's a

I wouldn't say it's a policy choice, the opposite. The rail system is privatised in the UK and yet still receives government subsidies. In addition, there's a huge drive to stop cars in our cities. Many "clean air initiatives", inflated parking charges, reducing lanes, pedestrianising spaces etc. It's just, regardless of how many paying passengers, or how short the journey, no one has ever been able to make trains work cost effectively here.