… which leads me to wonder: why don't more American states do something like that, especially in conjunction with Amtrak? It would be a great way to support intercity travel, with far less cost and hassle that establishing new rail routes … but California is the only state that's gotten into this big-time.
Here in Montana, there's definite political (and public) interest in restoring Amtrak service on all or part of the old North Coast Hiawatha route … but of course the obstacles to that are enormous, and it's not likely to happen for a very long time. Instead, maybe what the state should do is set up an "Amtrak Montana" bus operation, similar to the one in California, providing scheduled bus service connecting with the Empire Builder, on Montana routes that are now without intercity bus service.
I imagine there would be similar opportunities in lots of other states as well. It wouldn't have the cachet of a passenger-train pipe dream, but it would be inexpensive, good for local communities, and good for Amtrak, as well.