That's what the train companies do in Japan. They sell tickets virtually at cost and make their profits by building malls and shops next door to their stations

That's what the train companies do in Japan. They sell tickets virtually at cost and make their profits by building malls and shops next door to their stations and leasing the space out. In the UK surplus value from land next to public transport is usually captured by private landlords while train tickets have gone up and up and up.