I believe it is a case of "yes, and". A significant benefit of Rail transport is when you can go to the train station from your home by public transport, and wh

I believe it is a case of "yes, and". A significant benefit of Rail transport is when you can go to the train station from your home by public transport, and when you arrive to your destination city in a place where you can take public transport to your final destination. Good public transport has many benefits and should be prioritized. I'm baffled that there are large American airports that have no connectivity to public transport at all. Just improving that would already be significant. That doesn't mean that rail isn't worthwhile to pursue: SF to LA makes sense (mountain ranges are not necessarily relevant, that's the reason it goes the "long way" through the central valley, lack of density in between isn't as relevant because HSR has very infrequent stops in between destinations, having a handful of stops in the central valley would be enough to cater to those low population centers that don't wish to drive the full way), but if when you arrive to LA you have to rent a car to get around, that reduces the benefit or rail.