>>510660235 (OP)Because Europe isn't that much larger than Texas. The USA is gigantic most Europeans don't understand this. And before passenger trains were really built up over the USA, the age of flight came upon us. Quicker, faster to fly across America.
In any case building train lines that cross the USA was a megalithic feat, and many a rich man was busy trying to do that in the 1800s.
Also back then there was a LOT more of it.
Our passenger train rails have declined greatly since the 1800s. Again, because of flight.