Yeah rail in the UK is kind of abyssmal. It's seemingly getting more expensive in places where I would consider it "good" like the netherlands too. Got to make it public again; too many providers running on the same tracks!

I don’t even mind the diversity of providers - last time I was there (~2012) the issue was each provider had its own “monopoly” of routes that didn’t compete with others, creating an illusion of choice where there was none. Public option as a baseline, and private competing on amenities above it.