While it's good that we use a lot of freight rail, it's bad that most of the rail in this country is owned by the freight companies, even if passenger trains share them. The freight cars get priority,* even though their cargo is usually a little less time sensitive than people.
*Reading up a bit, Amtrak trains sometimes get priority but only if they hit their schedule. If they're late, it's behind the freight train they go, and those freight trains are sloooow.
