If the rail isn’t faster than the car then it won’t ever see wide scale adoption. It’s not even remotely difficult to clear this bar when the political will exists. Why slow down when there’s no actual need to?

A car can go faster from Amsterdam to Berlin than the train, yet I still see people on the train.

I've paid more to take longer by train, for greater convenience and comfort.

I agree with your point in general, I'm just quibbling that speed is the decider.