I had actually never been on a passenger train before coming to Japan... And had only even seen one once. It was such a rarity that I actually remember it. We were stopped at a rail crossing, looked up at the train slowly passing by, and it had
people on it.
Now it is hard for me to imagine not having the transportation options available that I have grown used to in Japan. Even in big cities in the US, it seems like the public transportation systems are just barely adequate - if that.
It is really a shame that passenger rail died out - I would have loved to have had the chance to take a cross country train trip... For me the journey is as much a part of the enjoyment as the destination itself so flying is really a bit depressing. I would love to at least have the option of a slower trip by rail and/or ship (without it costing a fortune...)