Russia (and some other ex-USSR states) has a large amount of passenger rail (long distance, commuter and the new thing that is daytime quick inter-regional trai

Russia (and some other ex-USSR states) has a large amount of passenger rail (long distance, commuter and the new thing that is daytime quick inter-regional trains) and also a large amount of freight as well. It helps that most of main lines are electrified twin tracks. With regards for competitiveness, once it's in it becomes vital infrastructure that nobody asks questions about. Like nobody asks "are the USA interstates competitive". They're there so that country as a whole remains competitive.