It is an interesting article. He does have some valid points. I hope Amtrak can improve itself on the Cardinal (and other trains). The poll about whether to fly or take the train shows people still favoring the train--though with reservations. One person says the Lake Shore needs some work, while the City of New Orleans was a "class act."
The author, though, still makes the error about who actually drives the train: it is the engineer, not the conductor.