Other countries have done it. The size argument is bullshit, China is able to do it and has equivalent landmass. No excuses. The entire point of trains was to traverse these vast expanses. Trains are what drove the Westward expansion of American society. So arguing that trains can’t handle those distances is absurd.

China has good rail service, but China still uses cars / transport trucks to get to many rural places. Source: I’ve been to rural China. I’m not against trains I just don’t think we can make it the primary means of transportation between rural towns