[mhays]

This sounds much like the Seattle-Portland route, which is also getting money to speed up slightly and add a couple more trains per day (to six), but also maxes out at 79. The current four/day each way fills up and a foregone conclusion that the six will too.

Many people are heading for the other city's downtown. In their home city they might take transit, get dropped off, or walk. At the other end they can often walk, and if they can there are taxis, transit, or getting picked up by friends.

It doesn't have to be about speed. For many people, as long as the train isn't significantly slower than driving or the bus, it's the way to go, because it's comfortable, you can work or sleep, you can walk around, etc. For some, even if it is slow it's still preferable.

Future improvements can add more speed.