I live in Nova Scotia. They just ripped out a bunch of train rails near me because people keep talking about funding train service again. It would be amazing for us living rural to be able to travel carless since we are so far from lots of things. I’m sure that’s why the last tracks here are being pulled up now. The trucking companies that charge extra to come to our island just because it’s an island and used to be more difficult to get to would be out of business. There is no reason since the 1960’s but they continue to charge us for nothing. No tracks means no trains for sure.
Ultramarathons are most often run over cross country type terrain and very mountainous areas not on pavement or track and involve pit stops for eating and sometimes sleeping. This accounts for the time differences.