I can go Manchester to London return tomorrow morning, 210 miles each way, change at Crewe, take about 3 hours each way, costs £36.30. £46.70 if I want to get there for 10am.

Petrol alone would cost about £65 in my car, parking another £20 at least, and it would be an hour slower each way.

In my country trains are very slow because the infrastructure wasn't properly maintained. So the train is only an option for very poor people and the homeless, with the latter not buying any tickets. Last time I used the train, it took 18 hours gfr a 700 km trip which we'd normally do in 11 hours by car. Nowadays it does 20+ hours.