As one of those Europeans I can assure you that having a working train network is great. But again: That's not the situation you're in, so I completely understand your decision.

The change we need to see in regards to the environmentalist arguement you're mentioning, will only be successful if the option to take a train and rent a car close to your final destination is more convenient or faster or cheaper or all of those for you.

It's the way we build the world that decides what is the best way to travel. We should build better worlds, not better cars.